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CALIfORNIA  STATE  MINING  BUREAU,  EERRY  BUILDING,  SAN  ERANCISCO 

BULLETIN  No.  57 


GOLD  DRLDGING 


IN 


CALIFORNIA 


LEWIS  E.  AUBURY 

State  Mineralogist 


LIBRARY 

UfcUVERSlTY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
SACRAMENTO 

W.    W.    SHANNON, SITERINTHNDRXT    .= T ATK    PRINTING 

u.cd7libp.ary 


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CALIfORNIA  STATE  MINING  BUREAU,  EERRY  BUILDING,  SAN  ERANCISCO 

BULLETIN  No.  57 


GOLD  DRLDGING 


IN 


CALIFORNIA 


LEWIS  E.  AUBURY 

State  Mineralogist 


LIBRARY 

UtUyERSlTY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
SACRAMP]XTO 

W.    W.    SHANNON,  -----         .SUPERINTENDENT   STATE    PRINTING 

U.CD7LIBf.ARY 


<l  > 


lEHER  Of  TRANSMIHAL. 


To  His  E.rccUency,  James  X.  Gillett,  Governor  of  the  State  of  Cali- 
fornia, and  the  Honorable  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  State  Mining 
Bureau. 

Gentlemen  :  I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  to  you  Bulletin  Xo.  57, 
"Gold  Dredging  in  California." 

This  report  is  the  second  one  on  the  subject  issued  under  my  direction. 
Owing  to  the  rapid  advance  made  in  gold  dredging  since  the  issuance 
of  Bulletin  Xo.  36.  I  deemed  it  advisable  to  prepare  a  report  which 
would  furnish  information  concerning  the  progress  made  in  this 
important  industry,  and  also  to  show  the  present  day  methods  of 
operation.  In  this  report  will  also  be  found  data  concerning  the  dredg- 
ing lands  of  the  important  districts,  their  value  as  arable  land  before 
dredging,  and  the  primary  efforts  made  towards  their  use  or  reclama- 
tion after  their  gold  contents  had  been  extracted. 

At  different  times  during  the  past  few  years,  some  opposition  was 
encountered  towards  the  industry,  and  some  representations  concerning 
the  debris  question  were  made  in  an  effort  to  effect  adverse  legislation. 
"While  it  is  admitted  that  in  a  few  isolated  cases  there  was  good  ground 
for  complaint,  it  was  unjust  that  the  whole  industry  should  be  con- 
demued  for  the  infractions  of  these  few  operating  companies.  In  this 
report  I  have  endeavored  to  furnish  data  obtained  by  the  Bureau 
explanatory  of  this  subject. 

The  field  work  on  this  Bulletin  was  performed  by  Mr.  W.  B.  Winston, 
and  ^Ir.  Charles  Janin  collaborated  with  ]\Ir.  Winston  in  part  of  the 
work  of  its  preparation.  I  wish  to  herewith  tender  the  thanks  of  this 
Department  to  both  of  these  gentlemen  for  their  kind  and  valuable 
assistance. 

I  also  wish  to  thank  those  officers  and  employees  of  the  different 
dredaing  companies  who  have  assisted  the  Bureau  by  furnishing  valu- 
al)le  information  concerning  costs,  operation,  etc.,  without  which  the 
report  would  be  incomplete,     rnifctriii  courtesy  was  extended  by  the 


Pi-:j7e 


IV  LETTER  OF  TRANSMITTAL. 

representatives  of  all  dredging  companies  operating  in  this  State,  •  as 
Avell  as  by  the  constrnetiou  companies,  to  all  of  whom  we  wish  to  extend 
our  kindest  acknowledgments. 

We  wish  to  also  extend  our  thanks  to  all  others  who  have  in  any 
manner  assisted  in  the  matter  of  furnishing  data  in  the  compilation  of 
this  work. 

It  is  hoped  that  with  the  information  furnished  in  this  report,  a 
better  understanding  of  the  conditions  affecting  dredging  in  this  State 
will  be  obtained,  and  that  it  will  serve  to  still  further  advance  an  indus- 
try which  is  of  growing  importance. 
Eespectfully  submitted. 

LEWIS  E.  AUBURY, 

State  ^Mineralogist. 

San  Francisco,  August  31,  1910. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


LETTER  OF  TKAXS.MITTAL  AND  INTRODUCTORY.  Page. 

HISTOrtlCAE  AND  GEOLOGICAL MS 

PROSPECTING   DREDGING   GROUND 19-37 

DREDGE  CONSTRUCTION  AND  OPERATION 3S-S4 

WORKING  COSTS  85-105 

CALIFORNIA  DREDGING  DISTRICTS— 

Butte   Ccju.xty    100-162 

Placer  County 163-164 

Yuba  County 164-174 

Sacramexto  County 174-204 

Calaveras   County   205-208 

Stanislaus   County   209-211 

Merced   County   211-213 

Shasta   County   213-218 

Siskiyou  County 218-223 

Trinity  County 11 

El  Dorado  County 11 

RECLAIMING    DREDGED    LANDS 224-247 

DEBRIS    PROBLEM    248-252 

OTHER  DREDGING  FIELDS— 

Montana    253-262 

Colorado 262-265 

Idaho    265-266 

Alaska    266-274 

Yukon    274 

Philippines    274-278 

New  Zealand  279-280 

Siberia    280-285 

Mexico 285 

Colombia    2'86-289 

French  Guiana   289-290 

Dutch  (Uiana   291 

British  Guiana  291 

Peru  and  Bolivia  291-293 

Tierra  Dki.  Fueoo 293-297 

Ecuador    297 

Brazil    297 

Argentina    297 


VI  TABLE    OF    CONTENTS. 

OTHER  DREDGING  FIELDS—  P^ge. 

Kelantan    (Malay  Pexi?csula)    298 

Korea 298-299 

West  Africa 299 

APPENDIX   301.304 

MINING  BUREAU  PUBLICATIONS 305 

INDEX    307-312 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Number.  Page. 

1.  First  successful  dredge  iu  California,  Feather  River  No.  1,  Itisdou  type..  1 

2.  Model  of  native  dredge  in  Ambos,  Camarines,  Luzon,  Philippine  Islands..  3 

3.  An    old    timer 4 

4.  Old  Bucyrus  type  of  dredge.  Continental  dredge,  1901 5 

5.  Hauling  dredge  machinery  in  mountains,   Siskiyou  County,  Cal ft 

6.  Hauling  dredge  machinery  in  mountains,  section  of  digging  ladder <) 

7.  Hauling  dredge  machinery   in   California  mountains 10 

8.  View  across  Feather  River  below  Oroville,  Cal 12 

9.  Method  of  working  placer  ground  below  Oroville  in  1860-70 13 

10.  General  view  of  Folsom  dredging  ground,  previous  to  di-edging 15 

11.  Ideal  section  old  gravel  channel,  after  R.  E.  Brown 16 

12.  False   bedrock   in   placer   deposit 17 

13.  Section   showing   bench   and   valley   placers 17 

14.  Ideal  river,  showing  accumulation  of  bars,  after  .J.  B.  Spur IS 

15.  Chinaman  rocking  gravel  from  shaft,  Oroville  district 21 

16.  Electric  driven   Keystone   drill 23 

17.  Drill    casing    25 

18.  Prospecting  with  Keystone  drill,  Shasta  County 27 

19.  Time  and  field  log  records 28 

20.  Prospecting   logbook    29 

21.  Prospecting  map  showing  order  iu  which  test  holes  were  put  down 32 

22.  Prospecting    map    35 

23.  Continental  dredge,  ten  years  and  four  months  in  operation 36 

24.  Line  drawing  of  Folsom  No.  6  dredge.  California  type between  36  and  37 

25.  Yuba  Construction  Company,  Marysville.  Cal.     Interior  of  machine  shop. 

showing    traveling    crane 39 

26.  Eight-cubic-foot  close-connected  buckets  loaded  with  gravel 40 

27.  Lower  tumbler  and  bucket  line,  improved  Risdon  type 41 

28.  Thirteen-cubic-foot  buckets,  Folsom  No.  4  dredge 42 

29.  Open-link  bucket  line,  Risdon  type,  .j-cubic-foot  buckets 43 

30.  Two-eye  buckets  showing  two  forward  eyes  and  one  rear  eye 44 

31.  Renewing   bucket   lips   and   hoods 45 

32.  Five-cubic-foot    buckets,    close-connected 46 

33.  Buckets  manufactured  by  Risdon  Iron  Works 47 

34.  New  type  close-connected  Risdon  buckets 48 

35.  Structural  steel  ladder,  Folsom  No.  6  dredge 48 

36.  Upper  tumbler  driving  gears  and  foundation  castings.  Marion 49 

37.  Upper   tumbler  drive  motor 49 

38.  Upper  tumbler  drive  on  a  9-cubic-foot  dredge -.  50 

89.  Side  elevation  of  electric  driven  dredge,  Bucyrus  Company  design,  Cali- 
fornia type  heticeen  50  and  51 

40.  Interior   of   revolving   screen 50 

41.  Revolving  screen   and   drive 52 

42.  Revolving  screen,  straight   type 53 

43.  Revolving   screen,   stepped   type 53 

44.  Standard   type  of  shaking  screen 54 

45.  Lattice  girder  type  stacker  ladder,  for  supporting  belt  conveyor 55 

46.  Thirty-oight-inch    tailing    conveyor 55 

47.  Showing    large    boulders    that    i)asscd    ovr    tailing    stacker    on    Calaveras 

dredge     56 

48.  Bucket  conveyor  for  stacking  dri'dire  tniliui;'.   Risdon  ty])0. 56 


Vlll  LIST  OP   ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Number.  Page. 

49.  Ladder  hoist  with  automatic  bralce 57 

50.  Port  winch  of  9-cubic-foot  dredge,  Folsom  No.  6 58 

51.  Electrically  driven  Risdon  open-link  elevator  dredge 59 

52.  Installing  75-foot  steel  spud,  Folsom  No.  6  dredge 60 

Close-connected  buckets,  showing  cut  in  bank 61 

53.  Yuba  Construction  Company,  Marysville,  Cal.      Interior  of  machine  shop  62 

54.  Type  of  switchboard  used  on  many  Oroville  dredges  for  low  voltage  motors  64 

55.  Plan  view  of  electric  driven  dredge,  Marion  design,  California  type 66 

56.  Side  elevation  electric  driven  dredge,  Marion  design,  California  type 67 

57.  Viloro  No.  1  dredge,  destroyed  by  fire,  Oroville  district 68 

5.8.     Electric  cable  supported  on  barrel  pontoons,  well  arranged 68 

59.  Electric  cable  supported  on  barrel  pontoons,  too  far  apart 69 

60.  Interior   of    dredge    hull 70 

61.  Showing  bow  gantry  construction,  Natomas  No.  3  dredge,  Folsom  district  70 

62.  Bow  gantry  construction.   Hunter  dredge,   Oroville  district 71 

63.  General  drawing  of  8 ^^ -cubic-foot  dredge,  with  steel  huU---beticecn  72  and  73 

64.  Double-bank    gold-saving    tables 73 

65.  Lower  bank  gold-saving  tables  on  a  double-bank  dredge 74 

66.  Upper  bank  gold-saving  tables  on  a  double-bank  dredge 74 

67.  General  view  of  the  Holmes  type  of  gold-saving  tables 75 

68.  General    view    of    single-bank    gold-saving    tables,    as    commonly    used    in 

California    77 

69.  Folsom  No.  4  dredge,  showing  clean-up  vat  and  sluice 78 

70.  Gold-saving  table  on  the  Indiana  No.  1  dredge,  old  design 79 

71.  Corner  in  retorting  room  at  Natoma 80 

72.  Old  type  dipper  dredge  equipped  with  double  hoppers,  screens  and  stackers  81 

73.  Plutus,   one-aud-three-quarter-yard   placer  mining  dipper  dredge,   Oroville 

district    82 

74.  Oroville  Dredging  Company's  Marion  dipper  dredge,  now  dismantled 83 

75.  Placer  dredge  operating  on  Australian  river 85 

76.  Monitors  at  work  on  cemented  gravel  bank,  California  type  dredge 86 

77.  Showing  ladder  and  bucket  line  on  5-cubic-foot  dredge,  Oroville,  Cal 87 

78.  Ground  to  be  dredged  partly  cleared  of  brush  and  trees,  Oroville  district-.  90 
Yuba  Nos.  1  and  2  dredges,  California  type 91 

79.  Yearly  cost  table hetween  94  and  95 

80.  Monthly   time   sheet between  94  and  95 

81.  View  of  Feather  River,  near  Oroville 106 

82.  Treat's  old  workings  at  Oroville 108 

83.  Remnants  of  the  first  dredge  at  Oroville 109 

84.  The    old    Oroville    and    California    Company's    Marion    dipper    dredges, 

wrecked  by  floods  of  1907,  Oroville  district 110 

85.  Old  Risdon  dredge  in  operation.  Marigold  No.  1 111 

86.  Remnants  of  one  of  the  early  dredges  in  the  Oroville  district 112 

87.  The  Continental  dredge  in  1009 112 

88.  Hunter  dredge,  California  type,  Oroville  district 114 

89.  Indiana  Nos.  1  and  2  dredges 115 

90.  Old  sand  pump  in  operation,  Indiana  No.  1  dredge 116 

91.  Wreck  of  Indiana  No.  2  dredge  in  1907 116 

92.  Indiana  No.  3  dredge  reconstructed  from  No.  2 117 

93.  Wreck  of  Indiana  No.  3  dredge  in  1908 118 

94.  Reconstructing  Indiana  No.  3  dredge,  June,  1909 119 

95.  Butte  dredge,  July,  1909 120 

96.  El  Oro  No.  1  dredge 121 

97.  El  Oro  No.  2  dredge 122 

98.  Drilling  blast  holes.  Gold  Run  property,  Oroville  district 125 

99.  New  type  Risdon  dredge.  Baggett  No.  1 127 

100.  Viloro  No.  2,  Risdon  dredge,  formerly  California  No.  3 128 

101.  Lava  Bed  No.  1,  old  type  placer-mining  dipper  dredge.     Dismantled 129 


LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS.  ix 

Number.  Page. 

102.  Showing  front  gantry  and  l)ucket  line  on  an  old  lllsdon  dredgp.  the  'Slavi- 

gold  No.  2,  now  out  of  commission 1.30 

103.  Marigold  No.  2  dredge  in  IDOO.  Oroville  district 1.30 

104.  Empire  dredge,  5-cubic-foot.  California  type,  Oroville  district 132 

lOu.     Victor  dredge,  5-cubic-foot.  California  type,  Oroville  district 1.33 

106.  Old  type  dipper  dredge,  the  California,  now  abandoned 135 

107.  The    Pennsylvania    dredge 1.30 

105.  Boston  No.  1  dredge,   now  dismantled 140 

109.  The   Continental  dredge,   after   reconstruction 141 

110.  Exploration    No.    2    dredge 143 

111.  Showing  top  soil  and  part  of  dredge  pond.  Cherokee  ground.  Oroville  dis- 

trict      144 

112.  Cherokee  dredge,  July,   1909 145 

113.  Feather  River  No.  2  dredge 140 

114.  Feather  No.  4  dredge.  July,  1909 147 

115.  Feather  No.  2,  showing  extra  gold-saving  tables 147 

116.  Gravel  and  sand  bank  in  front  of  dredge.  Pacific  ground,  Oroville 14S 

117.  Kia  Oro  dredge  in   operation 149 

118.  Kia  Oro  dredge  in  1909 149 

119.  Pacific  No.  1  dredge,  California  type l.jO 

120.  Gold-saving  tables  on  Pacific  No.  4  dredge.  Oroville.  Cal 152 

121.  Leggett  No.  3  dredge.  Oroville  district 1.53 

122.  Constructing  hull  for  the  Leggett  Mining  Company's  dredge  at  Wyman's 

Ravine,    near    Oroville 1.54 

123.  Gardella  dredge,   Wyman's  Ravine   district 155 

124.  Gardella  dredge,  Risdou  type,  Wyman's  Ravine  district 156 

125.  Garden   Ranch   dipper   dredge 157 

126.  Kentucky   Ranch   Gold   Dredging  Company's  boat.   Houcut   Creek.   Butte 

County,    Cal.    1.5S 

127.  Placer  mining  plant  on  Butte  Creek,  near  Centerville 159 

12S.  Butte  Creek  Consolidated  Mining  Company's  dredge   near   Diamondville, 

Butte   County.   Cal.    160 

129.  11-cubic-foot  buckets.  Butte  Creek  Consolidated  Company's  dredge 161 

130.  Part  of  main  sluice  and  undercurrent,  etc..  Butte  Creek  dredge 162 

131.  Bear  River  district,  sketch  map 163 

132.  Yuba  Basin,  sketch  map 164 

133.  Yuba  No.  1  and  No.  2  dredges  leaving  construction  pit 166 

134.  Yuba  No.   7  dredge 167 

135.  Yuba  No.  12  dredge 169 

136.  Idler  for  taking  up  slack  in  Inicket  line,  used  by  Yuba  (Jokl  Fields 170 

137.  Marysville    No.    2    dredge 171 

138.  Y'uba  Construction  Company.  Marysville.  Cal. 172 

139.  Yuba   Construction  Company,  interior  of  Foi-ge  shup 173 

140.  Yuba  Construction  Company,  general  view  of  yard 174 

141.  Yuba  Construction  Company,  interior  of  structural  shop 175 

142.  American  River  from  Fair  Oaks  bridge 176 

143.  American   River   district   map 177 

144.  Ashburton    No.   1   dredge - -.  179 

145.  Colorado  Pacific  No.   1  dredge 180 

146.  Road  cutting  near  Folsom 181 

147.  Syndicate   Mining   Company's   dredge 182 

148.  Arrangement  to  prevent  thefts  from  principal  part  of  gold-saving  tables.-  183 

149.  Folsom   No.   2  dredge 183 

150.  Wreck  of  Folsom   No.  2  dredge 184 

15L     Folsom   No.  3  dredge 184 

152.  Splicing  section  in  digging  ladder,  Folsom  No.  3  dredge 185 

153.  Folsom   No.   4  dredge 186 

154.  Winch  house.*  F<ilsoin   Nn.  4  dredge . 186 


X  LIST   OF   IIJ.rSTRATIONS. 

Number.  -pj^^,^ 

155.  Folsom   Xo.  ."»  drcduc,  showinu'  tail  sluices 187 

ir>((.  Folsom    Xo.    ~>  (Ircds-o Igg 

157.  Steel  casting  .spud  sui(l<'  to  jtrotect  stern  on  Folsom  Xo.  .">  dredse 180 

158.  Showing-  upper  and   lower  tail  sluices  and  long-  tailing  conveyor.   Folsom 

Xo.    5   dred.ge   190 

151).  Folsom   Xo.    0   dredge 191 

IGO.  Steel  spud,  Folsom   X"o.  0  dredge 192 

IGl.  Framing  large  wood  spud  for  Folsom  Xo.  G  dredge 193 

162.  Placing  point  on  large  wood  spud,  Folsom  X'^o.  6  dredge 193 

168.  Two-step  hydraulic  monitor  pumps,  Folsom  X'o.  G  dredge 194 

164.  Hydraulic  jets  breaking  down  bank  in  front  of  Folsom  Xo.  G  dredge 194 

165.  Digging  ladder  before  assembly,  Folsom  Xo.  6  dredge 195 

167.  Xatoma   X^o.    1  dredge 196 

168.  Belt  tailing  stacker,  Natomas  Xo.  2  dredge 197 

169.  Xatoma   Xo.   3  dredge 199 

171.  X'^atomas  crusher  plant  Xo.  2 200 

172.  Interior  of  machine  shop  at  Dredge 201 

173.  Blacksmith  shop  at  Dredge,  near  Folsom 202 

174.  Isabel  dredge,  Jenny  Lind,  Calaveras  County 205 

175.  La  Grange  dredge,   Stanislaus  County 209 

176.  La  Grange  dredge,  showing  front  gantry 210 

177.  Yosemite   dredge,   Merced   County 212 

17S.  Gold-saving  tables,   Yosemite  dredge 212 

179.  View  of  Sacramento  River  below  Redding 214 

ISO.  Dredging  ground  on  Clear  Creek,   Shasta  County 215 

181.  Shasta  dredge   before   reconstruction 215 

182.  Shasta   dredge    during    reconstruction 215 

183.  Shasta  dredge  in   1908 217 

184.  Shasta  dredge   in  1909 217 

185.  Hull  of  placer  mining  machine.  Clear  Creek,  Shasta  County 217 

186.  Outcrop  of  bedrock  at  Scott  River,  Siskiyou  Covmty 218 

187.  Hauling  dredge  machinery  for  Scott  River  dredge 210 

188.  Framing  timbers  for  dredge,  Siskiyou  County 219 

189.  Scott  River  dredge,   Siskiyou  County 221 

190.  Scott  River  dredge  in  course  of  construction 222 

101.  Hauling  dredge  machinery  in  the  mountains 223 

192.  General  view  of  Folsom  Rock-crushing  IMant  Xo.  1 225 

103.  Folsom  Rock-crushing  Plant  Xo.  1 226 

104.  General  view  of  Xatomas  Crusher  Plant  Xo.  2 228 

19.5.  General  plan  of  Xatomas  Crusher  Plant  Xo.  2,  at  Fair  Oaks  bridge 229 

196.  Xatomas  Crusher  Plant  Xo.  2,  donkey  engine,  etc 229 

197.  Xatomas  Crusher  Plant  Xo.  2,  main  conveyor  in  course  of  construction 229 

108.  Xatomas  Crusher  Plant  Xo.  2,  showing  receiving  hoi^per  and  main   con- 
veyor      229 

190.  Rolls  for  crushing  dredge  tailing 230 

200.  Section  through  Xatomas  Crusher  Plant  Xo.  2  for  dredge  tailing 2.30 

201.  Conveyors  for  handling  crushed  rock.  X'atomas  Crusher  Xo.  2 230 

202.  Ground  storage  piles  of  crushed  rock  at  X'atomas  Crusher  Xo.  2 231 

203.  Conveyor  tunnel.  Xatomas  Crusher  Plant  Xo.  2 2.32 

204.  Xatomas  Rock-crusher  Xo.  2  loading  crushed  rock 233 

205.  Machinery  for  Xatomas  Crusher  Xo.  2 233 

20(5.  Switchboard  at  Xatomas  Crusher  Xo.  2 233 

207.  Sheet  of  Xatomas  Crusher  Plant  Xo.  2 234 

208.  Line  drawing  of  Xatomas  Rock-crushing  Plant  Xo.  2 235 

200.  Valley  Contracting  Company's  rock-crushing  plant  at  Oroville,  Cal 236 

210.  Steam  shovel  loading  tailing  at  Oroville  crushing  plant 237 

211.  Eucalyptus  growing  on  dredge  tailing 238 

212.  Eucalyptus  and  fig  trees  growing  on  dredge  tailing . 238 


LIST   OF   ILLUSTRATIONS.  XI 

Number.  Page. 

213.  Orange  trees  and  grapevines  growing  on  drfdiii-  tailing 239 

214.  Grapevines  and  almond  trees  growing  on  dredge  tailing 240 

215.  Eucalyptus  growing  on  dredged  land 240 

216.  Orange  trees  growing  on  dredge  tailing 241 

217.  Grapevines  growing  on  dredged  land 1 242 

218.  View  of  large  portion  of  the  Oroville  ground  previous  to  dredging 242 

219.  View  of  ground  in  Oroville  dredging  field  before  dredging 243 

220.  General  view  of  dredging  ground  in  Folsom  district  previous  to  dredging..  243 

221.  Dredging  ground  in  the  Oroville  district 243 

222.  Dredge  at  Stanthrope,  Queensland,  Australia 244 

223.  Apple  and  walnut  trees  growing  on  dredged  ground.  New  Zealand 245 

224.  Dredged  ground  restored  to  city  property.  California 246 

225.  Feather  River,  near  Gridley  bridge 248 

226.  Feather  River,  below   Oroville 249 

227.  Mining  on  the  headwaters  of  the  Feather  River 251 

228.  General  view  of  Ruby  Valley  dredging  field 254 

229.  Maggie  A.  Gibson  dredge,  Montana 256 

230.  Three  Friends'  dredge,  Alaska 267 

231.  Hull  construction,  Alaska  dredge 268 

232.  Rothchild  No.  1  dredge,  Alaska 269 

233.  Plan  view  of  electric  driven  placer  mining  dredge 270 

234.  Side  elevation  of  steam  driven  placer  mining  dredge 271 

235.  Placer  mining  plant  in  the  Yukon 273 

236.  Map  showing  principal  mineral  deposits,  I'hilippiue  Islands 276 

237.  Dredge  on  river,  Philippine  Islands 277 

238.  Plant  of  the  Oroville  Dredging,  Limited,  Columbia 288 

239.  Ferry  Building,   San   Francisco,   Cal 300 

MAPS. 

Map  of  California Folder 

Map   of  Butte   County 106 

Map   of  Oroville   District   111 

Map  of  Bear  River 163 

Map  of  Yuba  Basin   165 

Map  of  American  River  District 177 

Map  of  Calaveras  County  205 

Map  of  Shasta  County  213 

Map  of  Siskiyou  County   218 

Map  of  Trinity  County 11 


Xll  INDEX  TO   DKLTXilXG    COMPANIES. 


INDEX  TO  DREDGING  COMPANIES  OPERATING  IN  CALIFORNIA  IN  1910. 


BUTTE    COUNTY. 

f*AGE. 

Butte  Creek   Consolidated   Dredging   Company 159 

El  Oro  Dredging  Company 120 

Gold  Run   Dredging  Company 125 

Gardella  L.  &  G.,  Wymans  Ravine 156 

Indiana   Gold   Dredging   Company 114 

Kentucky  Ranch  Gold  Dredging  Company 1.58 

Leggett  Mining  Company  1.5.5 

Natomas  Consolidated  of  California 144 

Oroville  Dredging,   Ltd.   135 

Oro  Water,  Light  and  Power  Company 129 

Ophir   Gold    Dredging   Company 123 

Pacific   Gold   Dredging   Company 148 

Pennslyvania  Dredging  Company  134 

Viloro   Syndicate,  Ltd.   126 

PLACER    COUNTY. 
Bear  River  Mining  Company 163 

YUBA   COUNTY. 

Marysville  Dredging  Company  170 

Yuba  Consolidated  Goldfields  167 

SACRAMENTO   COUNTY. 

Ashburton  Mining  Company  178 

Natomas   Consolidated   of   California 199 

CALAVERAS    COUNTY. 

Calaveras  Gold  Dredging  Company 207 

Isabel   Dredging   Company   208 

Mokelumne  ^Mining  Company  205 

STANISLAUS    COUNTY. 
La  Grange  Gold  Dredging  Company 210 

MERCED    COUNTY. 
Yosemite  Mining  and  Dredging  Company 211 

SHASTA  COUNTY. 
Shasta   Dredging   Company   216 

SISKIYOU    COUNTY. 

Scott  River  Dredging  Company   221 

Siskiyou   Dredging   Company ~3 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


INTRODUCTORY. 

By  Lewis  E.  Aubury,  State  Mineralogist. 

The  construction  of  the  first  practical  gold  dredge  in  California  in 
1898  marked  the  beginning  of  a  new  era  in  gold  mining,  and  Avhich 
branch  of  the  industry  has  probably,  since  its  inception,  assumed  greater 
proportions  in  this  State  than  elsewhere.  With  the  rapid  advances  made 
in  gold  dredging  and  the  gradual  increase  of  gold  output,  have  likewise 
come  the  improvements  and  enlarged  construction,  which  make  the 
California  gold  dredge  to-day  the  model  after  Avhich  other  countries 
pattern. 

The  gold  industry  of  this  State  has  received  a  new  impetus,  and  the 
production  has  advanced  approximately  three  and  a  half  million  dollars 
above  the  average  output  of  two  years  ago.  Should  other  forms  of  gold 
mining  maintain  their  average  two  years  from  now,  California  will 
probably  again  recover  its  rank  as  the  leading  gold  producing  State  in 
the  Union,  and  will  undoubtedly  maintain  its  lead  for  many  years  to 
come.  Sufficient  area  has  already  been  proven  in  the  gold  dredging 
fields  to  warrant  this  conclusion.  While  it  has  been  contended  in 
some  quarters  that  the  limits  of  the  dredging  areas  have  already 
been  fairly  well  defined,  and  that  the  large  interests  and  consolidations 
have  a  large  portion  of  the  fields  controlled,  new  companies  are  con- 
tinually being  organized  for  the  purpose  of  exploiting  tracts  which 
have  been  passed  over,  or  others  which  were  prospected  a  few  years  ago 
and  "turned  down"  as  being  too  low  grade  to  operate  profitably.  With 
the  advent  of  the  modern  dredge,  handling  250,000  to  300,000  cubic 
3^ards  of  gravel  per  month,  at  a  cost  of  from  2V4  to  3  cents  per  cubic 
yard,  conditions  have  changed  materially.  The  same  evolution  with 
dredge  mining  has  occurred  as  with  gold  (juartz  mining  in  this  State, 
and  the  cpiestion  has  resolved  itself  into  one  of  capacity.  The  present 
dredge — large  as  it  is — -has  apparently  not  yet  reached  its  limits. 

A  new  factor  has  entered  into  dredging  in  California  which  adds 
largely  to  the  profits  of  some  of  the  companies — that  is,  utilizing  the 
tailings  from  the  dredges.  The  tailings  are  broken  in  immense  crusliers 
and  the  product  utilized  for  macadam  for  roads  and  rubble  for  concrete. 
What  have  been  termed  by  some  as  "the  unsightly  piles  of  gravel"  have 
been  made  to  serve  various  good  purposes,  and,  at  the  same  time,  furnish 
the  best  class  of  material  at  a  minimum  cost  to  the  consumer. 

Several  protests  have  been  made  in  the  past  against  permitting  dredge 


Xiv  GULD  DHEDGIXG  IX  CALIFORNIA. 

mining.  These  protests  have  been  made  without  an  adequate  knowl- 
edge of  actual  conditions,  it  being  claimed  that  the  debris  from  the 
dredges  was  allowed  to  flow  into  the  river  channels  to  their  detriment, 
and  the  M-hole  industry  was  consequently  condemned.  Investigation 
showed  that  in  a  few  instances  dredging  was  being  carried  on  in  the 
streams  and  some  damage  was  undoubtedly  done.  Outside  of  these 
instances,  however,  the  balance  of  the  dredges  have  either  operated  in 
landlocked  sections,  away  from  the  streams,  or  were  depositing  the  tail- 
ings on  the  banks  of  the  streams,  deepening  the  channels  and  improving 
them. 

Some  complaint  has  also  been  made  of  the  total  destruction  of  the 
soil  where  dredges  operate.  Regarding  this  matter,  and  as  will  after- 
wards 1)e  shown  in  this  report,  but  a  comparatively  small  amount  of 
arable  land  is  included  in  that  which  has  been  or  will  be  dredged. 

On  the  other  hand,  reclamation  projects  are  now  under  way  which 
are  being  carried  on  by  some  of  the  dredging  companies,  which  will 
restore  to  cultivation  hundreds  of  acres  of  swamp  or  overflowed  lands, 
and  which,  were  it  not  for  the  enterprise  of  these  companies,  would 
remain  waste  or  unproductive  for  years  to  come.  These  reclaimed  lands 
will  far  more  then  ofliset  those  which  some  claim  will  be  irreparably 
ruined.  The  so-called  "destroyed  lands,"  which  at  one  time  were  pro- 
ductive, had,  to  a  large  extent,  been  made  worthless  for  agriculture, 
viticulture,  or  horticulture  by  their  former  owners  before  a  bucket  had 
turned  them  over.  The  mineral  ingredient  necessary  to  plant  life  had 
been  exhausted  from  the  surface  soil,  and  it  was  practically  impossible 
for  the  farmers  to  raise  a  profltable  crop  from  them.  To  a  certain 
extent,  dredging  these  lands  has  reclaimed  them.  Trees  or  vines  planted 
since  the  lands  were  dredged  give  ample  evidence  of  the  fertility  of  the 
ground,  and  serve  to  illustrate  the  improved  nature  of  the  same. 

In  the  dredging  sections,  lands  were  purchased  by  dredging  companies 
for  $25  per  acre,  and  the  same  land  after  dredging,  with  its  cobble  piles, 
was  sold  for  $100  per  acre  for  the  gravel  contents.  After  the  gravel 
has  been  removed,  or  the  lands  leveled,  they  can  again  be  utilized,  if 
necessary,  for  farming  lands. 

The  dredging  industry  in  California,  while  adding  annually  millions 
of  dollars  worth  of  gold  to  our  State's  products,  at  the  same  time  dis- 
penses immense  sums  through  the  various  channels  of  trade,  and  adds 
materially  to  our  prosperity.  It  will  continue  to  do  so  for  at  least  the 
next  decade,  and  as  actual  conditions  affecting  the  industry  become 
more  generally  known,  and  proper  restrictions  are  maintained,  it  will 
be  more  appreciated,  and  the  objections  which  have  been  raised  will 
disappear. 

The  possibilities  of  recovering  gold  by  dredging  were  not  deemed 
practical  until  recent  years,  and  some  of  the  early  miners  did  not  beliex^'^ 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA.  XV 

its  recovery  by  this  ine<ins  would  ever  be  possible.  As  indicating  some 
of  their  ideas,  I  will  quote  from  a  chapter  of  the  Reports  upon  jNIineral 
Resources  of  the  United  States,  1867,  by  Special  Commissioners  J.  Ross 
Browne  and  James  W.  Taylor : 

"It  was  not,  however,  in  quai-tz  mining  alone  tliat  ridiculous  hlundors 
were  made.  Large  sums  of  money  were  expended  in  the  Eastern  states  by 
men  who  had  never  seen  a  placer  mine,  and  had  no  correct  idea  of  the  nature 
of  the  gold  deposits,  in  making  machinery  to  take  gold  more  expeditiously 
from  the  river  beds  and  bars  than  could  be  done  by  hand.  One  enterprising 
New  York  company  sent  a  dredging  machine  to  dig  the  metal  from  the 
bottom  of  the  Yuba  River,  never  questioning  whether  that  stream  was  deep 
enough  in  the  summer  to  float  such  a  machine,  or  whether  the  tough  clay 
and  gravel  in  its  bed  could  be  dug  up  by  a  dredger,  and  entirely  ignorant  of 
the  fact  that  the  gold  is  mostly  in  the  crevices  of  the  bedrock,  where  the 
spoon  and  knife  of  the  skillful  and  attentive  miner  would  be  necessary  for 
cleaning  out  the  richest  pockets." 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  above  that  even  in  those  days  the  idea  of 

recovering  gold  by  dredging  was  considered  chimerical,  and  while  a  few 

adventurous  spirits  were  on  the  right  track,  the  mechanical  means  were 

at  fault. 

The  history  of  some  of  the  failures  attendant  on  early  experiments 

in  dredging  are  dwelt  upon  in  this  Bulletin,  as  well  as  in  No.  36,  so  I 

will  not  go  further  into  that  subject.     The  present  day  bucket  dredge 

has  apparently  not  yet  attained  perfection,  but  the  improvements  in 

construction  and  operation  have  been  so  rapid  and  so  many  that  little 

more  can  be  said  of  the  high  standard  which  has  been  reached  in  dredge 

building  than  to  refer  the  reader  to  the  cost  of  operations,  capacity,  etc., 

of  California  dredges,  which  more  practically  tell  the  tale. 

Outside  of  the  bucket  dredge,  no  others,  up  to  the  present  time,  have 
been  operated  in  California  which  have  proven  successful  in  recovering 
gold. 

The  opportunities  for  profitable  investment  in  dredge  mining  in  Cali- 
fornia are  many.  The  field  is  a  large  one,  and  so  far  as  proven  extends 
from  Siskiyou  County  in  the  northern  part  of  the  State  to  Merced 
County  on  the  south.  Descriptions  of  this  territory  will  ])e  found  in 
the  following  chapters.  A  general  description  of  dredging  fields  and 
operations  outside  of  California  has  also  been  added  to  this  report.  It 
may  prove  interesting  to  the  reader  as  a  comparison  with  conditions 
found  in  California. 

I  believe  it  can  be  safely  asserted  that  no  better  dredging  fields  can 
.be  found  than  in  this  State,  where  conditions  as  to  transportation, 
climate,  power,  character  of  material  to  be  handled,  etc.,  are  neai-ly 
perfect,  and  good  gold  values  are  also  found. 

In  the  following  chajjters  it  has  been  the  intention  to  furnish  data 
of  a  nature  which  would  meet  the  requirements  of  those  interested  in 
the  subject,  and  I  trust  that  the  information  contained  in  the  Bulletin 
will  pi'ove  ad('(|uat('  in  this  I'cspect. 


XVI  (iULD    DREDUIXU    IX    CALIFORNIA. 

The  gold  dreclgiiig  industry  in  California  is  established  on  a  stable 
basis.  This  is  made  obvious  by  the  detailed  figures  that  appear  in  this 
publication.  Its  continuance  is  a  reason  for  congratulation.  Much 
outside  capital  has  been  attracted  to  California  by  reason  of  it  and  the 
success  attending  investments  has  stimulated  interest  in  this  State,  with 
results  that  are  beneficial  to  all  classes  of  citizens.  The  resources  of  this 
State  are  practically  exhaustless.  There  may  be  an  end  to  gold  dis- 
coveries and  to  the  invention  of  means  to  reach  the  precious  metals  in 
California,  but  that  date  is  assuredly  far  off.  For  many  years,  in 
addition  to  wealth  to  be  derived  from  many  other  sources,  we  shall 
hold  out  to  the  enterprising  and  intelligent  miner  the  lure  of  gold  pro- 
duction, and  in  that  consideration  gold  dredging  will  have  a  prominent 
place.  » 


1.    GENERAL,  HISTORICAL,  AND  GEOLOGICAL. 

Bv  W.  B.  WixsTON  aud  Charles  Ja.m.x. 


The  history  of  gold  dredging  in  California  practically  begins  with  the 
floating  of  the  first  successful  bucket  elevator  dredge  at  Oroville,  on 
March  1,  1898,  aud  the  rapid  rise  of  the  gold  dredging  industry  in 
California  is,  in  a  great  measure,  due  to  the  enterprise  and  the  successful 
operations  of  W.  P.  Hamnion  and  the  late  Thomas  Couch.  These 
gentlemen  contracted  with  the  Kisdon  Iron  Works,  of  San  Francisco, 
for  the  construction  of  this  dredge,  which  operated  for  several  years  at 
the  lower  end  of  the  Oroville  district,  on  ground  now  belonging  to  the 
Natomas  Consolidated  of  California. 


No.    1.      First   successful  dredge  in   California.      Feather   River    No.    1,    Risdon 

type. 

The  above  dredge,  first  known  as  Couch  No.  1,  and  later  as  Feather 
River  No.  1,  was  by  no  means  an  unqualified  success  at  first.  Couch 
and  Ilammon  experienced  many  weeks  and  months  of  anxiety,  and 
expended  large  sums  of  money  in  changes  and  repairs  before  demon- 
strating that  the  venture  was  not  a  failure.  It  may  be  said  that  during 
this  time  the  fate  of  the  dredging  industry  hung  in  a  balance,  at  least 
as  far  as  the  Oroville  district  was  concerned.  It  would,  undoubtedly, 
have  been  many  years  before  other  parties  would  have  .undertaken 
experiments,  especially  as  at  that  time  gold  dredging  was  little  known 
of  in  America,  and  mining  men,  in  general,  had  little  faith  in  such 
ventures,  and  could  not  have  been  relied  upon  for  assistance. 

Thomas  Couch  lived  to  see  his  ventures  a  far  greater  success  than 
anticipated,  and  W.  P.  Ilammon,  who.  since  the  beginning,  has  been  the 
leading  gold  dredging  operator  in  California,  continues  to-day  in  control 
of  the  operations  of  the  largest  number  of  dredges  and  the  largest  gold 
dredging  companies  in  America. 


2  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

It  required  many  years  of  evolution  for  the  gold  dredging  industry 
to  reach  the  present  stage  of  practical  success.  Among  the  first  ideas 
that  occurred  to  many  of  the  early  gold  hunters  in  California  was  the 
use  of  a  machine  to  scoop  up  the  gravel  from  the  inaccessible  beds  and 
bars  of  auriferous  streams,  and  it  was  only  a  few  months  after  J\Iar- 
shall's  discovery  of  gold  in  California  that  a  machine  was  shipped 
around  the  Horn  from  New  York  to  San  Francisco.  It  arrived  in  1849, 
and  was  soon  at  the  bottom  of  the  Sacramento  River.  During  the  suc- 
ceeding years  many  attempts  at  gold  dredging  were  made  in  California, 
and  elsewhere  in  the  Western  States  of  America,  but  with  the  exception 
of  the  operations  with  double-lift-bucket  elevator  dredges  of  the  Bucyrus 
type,  at  Grasshopper  Creek,  Montana,  in  1894,  all  proved  failures. 

It  was  not  until  1897  that  a  dredge  of  the  single-lift-bucket  elevator 
type  was  floated  in  California.  This  dredge,  which  was  constructed  by 
the  Risdon  Iron  "Works  for  R.  H.  Postlethwaite  and  floated  on  the  Yuba 
River,  would  probably  have  been  a  success  if  located  at  Oroville ;  being, 
however,  in  a  turbulent  stream,  where  afterward  it  was  found  difficult 
to  even  hold  piling  during  the  flood  season,  the  dredge  was  wrecked 
and  was  not  recommissioned. 

Little  advantage  would  result  from  narrating  the  history,  in  detail, 
of  the  early  failures  in  gold  dredging,  or  from  giving  a  detailed  descrip- 
tion of  the  obsolete  machines  designed  for  this  purpose.  Dredging  has 
become  an  established  and  important  branch  of  mining,  and,  with  the 
information  at  hand,  the  early  failures  are  not  needed  to  warn  careful 
investors  against  similar  mistakes ;  it  is  sufficient  to  say  that  among  the 
machines  that  have  not  proven  a  success  so  far  in  gold  dredging  are  the 
submarine  boats,  the  pneumatic  caisson,  the  hydraulic  or  centrifugal 
pump  suction  dredge,  the  clam-shell,  and  the  vacuum  dredge. 

The  steam  shovel,  or  steam  paddy  as  it  was  originally  called,  was  used 
in  America  for  excavating  purposes  many  years  prior  to  gold  dredging. 
This  and  the  original  single  bucket,  or  spoon  dredge,  as  evolved  in  New 
Zealand  in  the  early  sixties,  were  probably  the  forerunners  of  the  pres- 
ent placer  mining  dipper  dredge,  which  in  several  instances  has  proven 
a  success  in  California.  The  single  bucket  or  spoon  dredges  of  New 
Zealand  were  at  first  crude  machines,  consisting,  in  a  general  way,  of  a 
bag  laced  or  riveted  to  a  round  iron  frame  secured  at  the  end  of  a  long 
pole,  and  drawn  along  the  bottom  of  the  creeks  or  rivers.  This  bag  was 
so  counterbalanced  that  when  filled,  or  partly  so,  it  could  be  hauled  up 
and  the  contents  emptied  into  a  sluice  box  or  rocker.  The  next  improve- 
ment was  the  use  of  pontoons  in  connection  with  the  spoon,  an  auxiliary 
scow  being  used  for  the  washing  apparatus.  These  dredges  Avere  at  first 
operated  entirely  by  hand,  and  afterAvard  by  current  wheels,  the  first 
steam-driven  dipper  dredge,  as  invented  liy  Ward,  being  built  about 
1870. 


HISTORICAL  AND  GEOLOGICAL.  0 

The  first  experiments  with  placer  mining  bucket  elevator  dredges  Avere 
made  in  1867  at  Otago,  New  Zealand.  These  dredges  were  operated 
with  power  furnished  by  current  wheels,  the  first  steam  driven  bucket 
elevator  dredge  being  constructed  to  operate  on  the  Molyneux  River 
in  1881. 

History  relates  that  a  bucket  elevator  dredge,  built  about  1882,  oper- 
ated successfully  for  sixteen  years,  and  on  account  of  the  success  of  a 
dredge  of  this  type  in  1889.  on  a  I)i-anch  of  tlie  ^Molynenx  Hiver  in  New 


No.  2.     Model  of  native  dredge  in  Ambos,   Camarines,   Luzon,   Philippine   Islands. 

Zealand,  some  twenty  were  built  at  an  average  cost  of  $17,500.  Their 
operations,  at  first,  however,  proved  failures,  probabh"  owing  to  unsuit- 
able conditions  of  the  gravel  deposit,  and  perhaps  also  to  inexperienced 
or  incompetent  management.  ]\Ian3^  of  these  dredges  were  later  floated 
down  the  Molyneux  River,  and,  under  new  ownership,  proved  success- 
ful. A  number  of  suction  dredges  Avere  built  in  New  Zealand,  but,  as 
elsewhere,  were  failures. 

The  reason  for  some  of  the  early  failures  in  California  is  indicated  in 
the  illustration  entitled  "An  Old  Timer."  Tliis  nuichine,  on  which 
about  $40,000  was  expended,  was  equipped  with  a  Inicket  ladder  made 


4  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

of  two  pieces  of  4-ineh  l)y  18-ineh  Oregon  pine.  The  buckets  were  made 
of  No.  l-t  iron  and  the  links  of  %-inch  b.y  2-inch  tire-iron,  and  bolted 
together  with  V-)-inch  carriage  bolts.  The  machine  was  at  first  driven 
by  steam  and  afterward  by  a  gasoline  engine,  and  is  reported  to  have 
handled  8,000  cubic  yards  of  gravel  during  a  period  of  about  two  years 
and  three  months,  while  operating  in  ground  that  is  said  to  have  yielded 
30  cents  per  cubic  yard. 

Although  gold  dredging  had  been  successfully  carried  on  in  New 
Zealand  for  many  years  prior  to  this  mode  of  mining  in  California,  it  is 
doubtful  if  the  idea  of  gold  dredging  in  California  emanated  entirely 


p 

■     ::-3 

i 

I'-r 

/^m 

p. 

'm 

m 

^%              H 

r 

8W| 

^.4    .    ^ 

No.  3.     "An  old  timer."     Illustration  of  one  of  the  early  mistakes  in  dredge  construction. 

from  the  success  met  with  in  New  Zealand.  Among  the  first  men  to  be 
consulted  by  W.  P.  Hammon  were  F.  T.  Sutherland  and  W.  H.  Christie. 
Sutherland,  who  knew  little  about  dredging  in  New  Zealand,  was 
familiar,  however,  with  the  successful  operations  of  the  double-lift- 
bucket  elevator  dredges  at  Bannock,  Montana,  and  interested  Captain 
Thomas  Couch,  of  Butte,  Montana,  in  Hammon 's  ventures.  At  the 
same  time  Sutherland  was  trying  to  convince  Captain  Couch  of  the  pos- 
sibilities of  dredging  the  Oroville  gravels,  W.  P.  Hammon  consulted 
with  W.  H.  Christie,  who,  through  the  firm  of  Christie  &  Lowe,  sent 
a  ]\Ir.  Brown  to  make  an  examination  of  the  ground,  and  to  report  upon 
the  practicability  of  its  being  worked  by  dredges.  The  firm  of  Christie 
&  Lowe,  general  contractors,  were  at  that  time  engaged  in  canal  and 
jettj'  work  in  the  East,  and  based  their  opinion  upon  their  experience 
in  the  handling  of  gravel  and  sand  for  economic  purposes.  ]\L*.  Brown 
reported  favorably,  and  soon  afterwards  Captain  Couch  contracted  with 
the  Risdon  Iron  Works  for  the  building  of  the  first  single-lift-bucket 
elevator  dredge  in  the  Oroville  district. 


HISTORICAL  AND  GEOLOGICAL. 


The  bucket  elevator 
is  the  only  type  of 
dredge  that  has  been 
a  financial  success  in 
gold  dredging,  on  a 
large  scale,  either  in 
California  or  else- 
where. From  1898  to 
1902  the  principal 
dredges  in  California 
were  of  the  single-lift- 
open-link-bucket  ele- 
vator type,  equipped 
with  tailing  stacker ; 
in  1899  and  1900, 
two  double-lift-open- 
link-bucket  elevator 
dredges,  equipped 
with  tail  sluices  and 
tail  scow,  were  con- 
structed, one  by  F. 
W.  Griffin  and  D.  P. 
Cameron  and  one  by 
the  Bucyrus  Com- 
pany, and  put  in  op- 
eration at  Oroville 
and  at  FoIsoul  re- 
spectively, the  Con- 
tinental and  Ashlnir- 
ton  No.  1.  It  was  not 
until  1901  that 
dredge  constructors 
abandoned  the  double- 
lift  dredges,  and  cen- 
tered their  attention 
to  the  perfecting  of 
the  single-lift  type, 
equipped  with  close- 
connected  buckets  and 
belt  tailing  stacker 
and  driven  hy  elec- 
tricity in  ])lace  of 
s  t  e  a  m.      It    may, 


6 


GOLD  DREDGING  IX  CALIFORNIA. 


therefore,  be  said  tluit  the  histoi'v  of  the  large  modern  California  gold 
dredge  commenced  with  the  construetion  of  the  first  electrically  driven 
singie-lift-close-connected-biicket  elevator  dredge  in  the  Oroville  field  in 
1901.  The  first  dredges  in  the  Oroville  district  were  equipped  with  31/4.- 
cubic-foot  buckets ;  on  some  of  the  new  dredges  these  wete  increased,  in 
1899,  to  5-cubic-foot,  bnt  the  majority  of  the  dredges  up  to  1904  were  of 


No.   5.     Hauling  dredge  machinery  in  the  mountains,   Siskiyou   County,   California. 

3-,  314-,  and  -l-cubic-foot  size.  The  Marion  Steam  Shovel  Company,  in 
October,  1904,  constructed  a  7-cubic-foot-bucket  elevator  dredge  for  the 
Boston  and  California  Gold  Dredging  Company.  At  the  present  time 
there  are  five  7-cubic-foot  and  three  71,4-cubic-foot  dredges  in  the  Oro- 
ville district,  the  others  being  3-.  31/0-,  4-,  5-,  5%-,  and  6-cubic-foot 
capacities. 

While,  since  the  beginning  of  dredging  operations  in  California,  the 
Oroville  district  has  been  the  largest  gold  producer  from  this  source  in 


No.   6.      Hauling  dredge  machinery  in  the  mountains,   section  of  digging  ladder. 

the  State,  and  has  had  the  greatest  number  of  dredging  companies  and 
dredges,  the  advancement  in  dredge  construction  and  in  the  perfection 
of  the  large  dredges  of  to-day  was  more  rapid  in  the  Folsom  or  American 
River  district,  where  as  early  as  1899  the  first  7 i/o -cubic-foot  dredge  in 
California  was  constructed  by  the  Bucyrus  Company  for  R.  G.  Han- 
ford.  This  was  put  in  operation  by  the  New  England  Exploration  Com- 
pany. :\rarch  1,  1900.  In  1905  the  first  8I0-.  9-.  and  13-cubic-foot  dredges 
in  California  were  put  in  commission  along  the  American  River  in  the 
Folsom  district. 


HISTORICAL  AND  GEOLOGICAL. 


The  principal  dredging  fields  in  California,  up  to  1903,  were  located 
along  the  Feather  River,  near  Oroville,  and  on  the  American  River  near 
Folsom.  Since  1903,  dredging  along  the  Yuba  River  between  Marysville 
and  Smartsville  has  materially  added  to  the  gold  output  of  the  State, 
and,  owing  to  the  depth  necessary  to  dig,  from  50  to  75  feet,  many  new 
features  in  dredge  construction  have  been  developed.  This  district  is 
now  one  of  the  largest  gold  dredging  fields  in  the  world.  The  land  is 
owned  by  two  companies,  one  of  which  has  twelve  dredges  operating 
and  one  under  construction ;  and  the  other,  an  operating  plant  of  three 
dredges. 

Aside  from  the  Oroville,  Folsom,  and  Yuba  districts,  there  are  three 
dredges  operating  in  Calaveras  County,  one  in  Merced,  one  in  Shasta, 
two  in  Siskiyou  and  one  in  Stanislaus,  making  a  total  of  63  operating 
in  the  State,  w^hich,  together  with  three  large  dredges  under  construc- 
tion, represent  an  investment  of  about  $7,205,000. 

Owing  to  their  small  capacity  and  to  the  great  improvement  in  dredge 
construction,  there  are  38  dredges,  representing  an  investment  of  about 
$1,790,000,  now  idle  or  dismantled.  The  following  table  gives  the 
number  of  elevator  dredges  commissioned  in  California  from  1897  to 
1910.  as  nearly  as  can  be  ascertained,  the  number  in  active  operation, 
and  approximately  the  capital  invested  in  them : 


District. 

o 

o 
-  s 

;  tS 

d 
-'2 

o  ' 

o 

6." 

1       ;  " 

Butte  Countj'— 
Oroville    .    -             __              -    .    ._- 

21* 
1* 

25 
2 
2 
1 
9 

15 
3 
1 
1 
1 
1 
2 

1 

-__ 
1 

47 
3 
2 
1 

16 
17 
3 
1 
1 
5 
3 
3 
2 

$3,135,000 

Wyman's    Ravine           .... 

j 

Honcut    Creek    . 

[■  375.000 

Butte  Creek  

Sacramento  Countv  -      -    --  -- 

1 

2,010.000 

Tuba   County    

Calaveras  Countv  .                      _  _     . 

2,220.000 

Merced  County  .         __    .         . 

Stanislaus  Countv    --      -      ..  _  _ 

Placer  County  

Shasta  Countv    .  -  .- 

4 
2 

1 
2 

}  1.255.000 

Siskiyou  Countv  

Trinity  County  

Totals   1 

38 

63 

3t 

104 

$8,995,000$ 

*  This  includes  four  dipper  dredges  which  operated  successfully  in  the  Oroville 
district. 

t  All  of  these  dredges  are  to  be  equipped  with  13 1^^ -cubic-foot  buckets. 
J  Appro.ximated. 

There  is,  perhaps,  no  branch  of  mining  which  has  come  to  the  front 
in  so  short  a  time  as  gold  dredging,  which  from  1898  to  1908  produced 
over  $25,000,000  worth  of  placer  gold  in  California.  On  account  of 
hydraulic  mining  being  prohibited  in  many  counties,  the  output  of 
placer  gold  in  California  would  have  shown  a  marked  decrease,  in  late 
years,  had  it  not  been  for  dredge  mining. 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


The  following  diagram  shows  the  rapid  increase  in  the  gold  output 
from  dredging  operations : 


Production  of  Gold  Won  from   Dredging  Operations  in  California,  from  1898  to  1909. 


r,ooo,ooo 


6,000,000 


5,000,000 


4,000,000 


3,000,000 


2,000,000 


1,000,000 


1909   estimated. 


HISTORICAL  AND  GEOLOGICAL. 


9 


The  different  methods  of  miniug  the  gravel  deposits  of  California  are 
as  follows :  first,  river,  bar,  and  gulch  mining,  or  washing  the  detritus, 
either  in  or  closely  adjacent  to  the  beds  of  the  present  rivers ;  second, 
hydraulic  mining ;  third,  tunnel  or  drift  mining,  which  is  working  the 
rich  portions  on  the  bedrock  by  means  of  drifts ;  fourth,  what  has  been 
called,  for  want  of  a  better  name,  surface  mining,  which  is  intermediate 
in  character  between  the  river  and  hydraulic  mining  processes ;  and 
fifth,  dredging,  the  most  recent  method  of  working  the  gravel  deposits, 
w'here  natural  conditions  allow  the  installation  of  a  plant. 

In  1903  the  gold  production  from  dredges  exceeded  that  from  either 
the  hydraulic  or  drift  mines.  In  1904  the  yield  exceeded  that  of  both 
the  hydraulic  and  drift  mines  combined,  and  in  1905  the  dredges  pro- 
duced $461,205  more  than  the  drift,  hydraulic,  and  surface  placers 
together,  and  since  then  the  output  from  dredging  has  exceeded  the 
total  yield  of  the  three  other  forms  of  placer  mining.  In  1908.  the 
dredges  produced  $4,841,191  more  gold  than  all  the  hydraulic,  drift, 
and  surface  placers  together,  or  over  79  per  cent  of  all  the  placer  gold 
of  the  State  for  that  year.  In  1908  there  were  eight  counties  reporting 
returns  from  dredge  operations.  The  following  table  shows  the  pro- 
duction of  gold  from  dredging  operations  in  California  from  1898  to 
1908,  by  counties : 


Production  of  Gold  Won  from  Dredging  Operations  in  California,  from  1898  to  1908, 
Compiled  from  U.  S.  Mint  and  Geological  Survey  Records. 


Counties. 

1898. 

1899. 

1900. 

1901. 

1902. 

1903. 

Butte 

Calaveras  ..      

$18,847 

$132,412 

"i,m 

$154,065 



17^200 
29404 

$396,919 

47^619 

"5"004 
22,392 

$614,380 
3,948 

155494 

18^773 
9,000 

$1,329,998 
12,807 

Madera,        Merced, 
and  Stanislaus  — 

Sacramento 

Shasta 

mim 

Siskiyou    .          .  -  _ 

7.318 

Trinity    _     - 

10.600 

Yuba   ...      -    - 

25,736 

El    Dorado    

Totals  

$18,847 

$133,812 

$200,369 

$471,934 

$801,295 

$1,488,556 

Counties. 

1904. 

1905.                1906.                1907.        ,        1908. 

Grit  lid 
Totals. 

Butte      

$1,632,507 
115.951 

348'990 

"6'827 

8,500 

74,263 

'  $2,261,887 
202,505 

569424 

'7411 

5.000 

188.967 

41547 

$2,768,782 
177,112 

92T3OO 

26.000 

1,205465 

$2,697,092 
*30,802 

649"5ii 
1,688"032 

$3,043,051 
198,600 

182.970 

1,109.196 

30.966 

2,227 

1,969,079 

$15,019,940 

Calaveras    .. 

741.725 

Madera.        Merced, 
and  Stanislaus  „ 

Sacramento    

Shasta    

182.970 

3,920.231 

.30.966 

Siskiyou    _ 

74.660 

Trinity    

Tuba    -.- 

84.596 
5.151.242 

El    Dorado    

41.547 

Totals  

$2,187,038 

$3,276,141 

$5,098,359 

$5,065,437 

$6,536,089 

$25,277,877 

•  Shasta  County  included. 


10 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


In  1908  the  total  gold  production  amounted  to  $18,761,589,  in  Cali- 
fornia, of  this  $10,530,372  came  from  deep  mines,  $6,536,189  from  gold 
dredging,  and  $1,694,998  from  hydraulic  mines  and  surface  placers. 

Of  the  gold  producing  counties  in  California  in  1908,  there  were  four 
which  yielded  no  placer  gold,  three  which  yielded  no  quartz  gold,  and 
seven,  the  production  from  which  was  over  $1,000,000  each ;  the  rank  in 
value  of  output  of  these  counties  is  as  follows : 


Butte  $3,139,398 

Nevada   2,297,963 

Yuba    2,034,486 

Amador    1.876,174 


Calaveras  $1,378,511 

Sacramento 1,166,055 

Shasta    1,131,832 


Butte,  Sacramento,  and  Yul)a  are  dredge  mining  counties,  the  others 
being  principally  cpiartz  mining.  Butte  ranks  the  first  gold  produc- 
ing county  in  the  State,  which  is  due  to  the  large  number  of  gold  dredges 
operated  there.  Sacramento  showed  the  largest  increased  yield  of  gold 
for  the  year  1908,  $375,082,  this  being  due  to  the  operations  of  new 
dredges  as  mentioned  elsewhere.  The  largest  production  of  gold  from 
deep  mines  came  from  Nevada  County. 

The  following  table  shows  the  number  of  dredges  operating  in  Cali- 
fornia, the  gold  produced  and  the  number  of  persons  employed  during 
1908  and  1909 : 


Year. 

Dredges 
Working. 

Put  in 
Operation 

During 
the  Year. 

Gross  Yield. 

Number  of 
Yield  per        Men  Ordi- 
Dredge.       '       narily 

Employed. 

1908    .— 

1 
65  i              9 

$6,536,089       $100,555.21             940 

1909    

64 

5 

6,870,000 

107,328.12             932 

Several  of  the  working  dredges  were  constructed  and  put  in  com- 
mission during  the  year,  while  others  were  either  dismantled  or  delayed 
by  minor  repairs,  so  that  few  of  the  dredges  operated  continuously; 
while  the  number  of  operating  dredges  are  apparently  on  the  decrease, 
the  gold  production  from  this  source  is  increasing,  and  it  is  expected 


No.   7.      Hauling  dredge   macliinery   in   the    Caiifurnia   mountains. 


(T 


-^ 


V 


vU 


M 


0 


\r 


y.do 


N-* 


H       u       M       B      ^9..riJ^^ 


0  U  N  T 


HISTORICAL  AND  GEOLOGICAL. 


11 


that  the  output  in  1910  will  exceed  $7,000,000.  The  dredges  now  con- 
structed are  usually  equipped  with  buckets  from  Ti/o  to  13y2-cubic- 
foot  capacity,  and  it  is  probably  only  a  matter  of  time  until  15-eubie- 
foot  buckets  will  be  used.  The  early  dredges  had  a  capacity  of  from 
25.000  to  45,000  cubic  yards  of  gravel  per  month,  while  the  large 
dredges  of  to-day  handle  an  average  of  from  160,000  to  250,000  cubic 
yards  per  month. 

Owing  to  the  financial  success  of  the  gold  dredging  industry,  most  of 
the  gravel  deposits  in  the  State  have  been  explored.  It  is  doubtful  if 
any  new  dredging  fields,  as  rich  as  those  now  being  worked,  will  be 
found,  but  it  is  possible  that  with  the  increased  capacity  of  the  dredges, 
many  low  grade  deposits  will  be  worked  in  the  future. 

The  present  known  payable  districts  in  California  which  have  so  far 
been  proven  comprise  an  area  of  about  19,000  acres,  and  are  located  in 
Butte,  Yuba,  Placer.  Sacramento.  Calaveras,  Stanislaus,  Merced,  Shasta, 
and  Siskiyou  counties.  The  following  table  shows,  in  a  general  way,  the 
extent  of  the  dredging  ground  in  these  counties,  the  average  depth  of 
the  gravel,  and  the  value  per  cubic  yard.  IMuch  of  this  ground  has 
alreadv  been  dredged : 


Counties. 


Total 

Proven 
DredKing 
Ground. 


Average 

Value  per 

Cubic 

Yard. 


Average 
Pepth  of 
Ground. 


Butte 

Yuba    

Placer  

Sacramento 
Calaveras  . 
Stanislaus 

Merced  

Shasta  

Siskiyou  _-. 


6.600  acres 
3,600  acres 
430  acres 
6,050  acres 
850  acres 
200  acres 
400  acres 
700  acres 
370  acres 


15  cents 
15  cents 
9  cents 
12  cents 
15  cents 
15  cents 
14  cents 
12  cents 
14  cents 


30  feet 
65  feet 
38  feet 
35  feet 
18  feet 
22  feet 
20  feet 
22  feet 
35  feet 


A  number  of  years  ago  two  Risdon  dredges  operated  in  Trinity 
County,  near  Trinity  Center  and  at  Poker  Bar;  there  is  now,  however, 
no  gold  dredging  being  carried  on  in  the  country.  Several  tracts  are 
now  being  considered  on  which  to  install  new  dredges.  In  El  Dorado 
County  some  dredging  operations  were  started  a  number  of  years  ago, 
but  are  not  reported  to  have  been  a  success  and  no  dredging  operations 
of  importance  are  being  carried  on  in  the  county  at  the  present  time. 
A  new  bucket  dredge  is  being  constructed  at  Cache  Rock,  in  Placer 
County,  by  the  Risdon  Iron  Works.  At  this  point  a  Dubois  suction 
dredge  was  erected  a  few  years  ago,  but  it  is  reported  that  after  being 
in  operation  for  six  months  onlj'^  one  half  ounce  of  gold  was  recovered. 
There  are  no  dredges  operating  in  Plumas  County,  although  consider- 
able prospecting  was  done  a  number  of  years  ago.  In  Shasta  County 
there  is  at  present  only  one  dredge  in  active  operation.     The  total  drodg- 


10 


In  1^ 
fornia, 
dredgin 

Of  th- 
which  A 
seven,  t.- 
value  o: 

Butte  .- 
Nevada 
Yuba    - 
Amador 

Butte 
being  p 
ing  coui 
operatec  / 
for  the 
dredges 
deep  mi 

The  I  - 
fornia,  t 
1908  anc 


.    0 

I, ._ , 


a 


K 


H 


HISTORICAL  AND  GEOLOGICAL. 


11 


that  the  output  in  1910  will  exceed  $7,000,000.  The  dredges  now  con- 
structed are  usualh'  equipped  with  buckets  from  7i^  to  13i/^-cubic- 
foot  capacity,  and  it  is  probably  only  a  matter  of  time  until  15-cubic- 
foot  buckets  will  be  used.  The  early  dredges  had  a  capacity  of  from 
'25,000  to  45,000  cubic  yards  of  gravel  per  month,  while  the  large 
dredges  of  to-day  handle  an  average  of  from  160,000  to  250,000  cubic 
yards  per  month. 

Owing  to  the  financial  success  of  the  gold  dredging  industry,  most  of 
the  gravel  deposits  in  the  State  have  been  explored.  It  is  doubtful  if 
any  new  dredging  fields,  as  rich  as  those  now  being  worked,  will  be 
found,  but  it  is  possible  that  with  the  increased  capacity  of  the  dredges, 
many  low  grade  deposits  will  be  worked  in  the  future. 

The  present  known  payable  districts  in  California  which  have  so  far 
been  proven  comprise  an  area  of  about  19,000  acres,  and  are  located  in 
Butte,  Yuba,  Placer.  Sacramento,  Calaveras.  Stanislaus,  Merced,  Shasta, 
and  Siskiyou  counties.  The  following  table  shows,  in  a  general  way,  the 
extent  of  the  dredging  ground  in  these  counties,  the  average  depth  of 
the  gravel,  and  the  value  per  cubic  yard.  ]Much  of  this  ground  has 
alreadv  been  dredged: 


Counties. 


Total 

Proven 
Dreduing 
Ground. 


Average 

Value  per 

Cubic 

Yard. 


Average 
Depth  of 
Ground. 


Butte 

Yuba    

Placer  

Sacramento 
Calaveras  . 
Stanislaus  . 

Merced  

Shasta  

Siskiyou  .-. 


6.600  acres 
3.600  acres 
430  acres 
6,050  acres 
850  acres 
200  acres 
400  acres 
700  acres 
370  acres 


15  cents 
15  cents 
9  cents 
12  cents 
15  cents 
15  cents 
14  cents 
12  cents 
14  cents 


30  feet 
65  feet 
38  feet 
35  feet 
18  feet 
22  feet 
20  feet 
22  feet 
35  feet 


A  number  of  years  ago  two  Kisdon  dredges  operated  in  Trinity 
County,  near  Trinity  Center  and  at  Poker  Bar;  there  is  now,  however, 
no  gold  dredging  being  carried  on  in  the  county.  Several  tracts  are 
now  being  considered  on  which  to  install  new  dredges.  In  El  Dorado 
County  some  dredging  operations  were  started  a  number  of  years  ago, 
but  are  not  reported  to  have  been  a  success  and  no  dredging  operations 
of  importance  are  being  carried  on  in  the  county  at  the  present  time. 
A  new  bucket  dredge  is  being  constructed  at  Cache  Rock,  in  Placer 
County,  by  the  Risdon  Iron  Works.  At  this  point  a  Dubois  suction 
dredge  was  erected  a  few  years  ago,  but  it  is  reported  that  after  being 
in  operation  for  six  months  only  one  half  ounce  of  gold  was  recovered. 
There  are  no  dredges  operating  in  Plumas  County,  although  consider- 
able prospecting  was  done  a  number  of  years  ago.  In  Shasta  County 
there  is  at  present  only  one  dredge  in  active  operation.     The  total  dredg- 


12 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA, 


ing  area  is  estimated  at  about  (),000  acres,  of  which  nearly  1,000  acres 
have  so  far  been  proven  ;  eonsiderabk^  prospecting  is  being  done  in 
this  county. 

Occasional  complaints  have  been  made  during  the  last  few  years,  by 
men  not  familiar  with  conditions  in  the  field,  about  dredges  obstructing 
the  rivers  and  discoloring  the  water  in  the  streams ;  and  a  great  deal  has 
been  said  at  times  about  the  destruction  to  orchards  and  vineyards  by 
dredge  mining.  Investigation,  however,  proved  that  these  objections 
were  unwarranted. 


No.  8.     View  across  Feather  River,  below  Oroville,   Cal. 

Practically  all  of  the  dredges  now  operating  in  California  are  working 
inland  and  not  in  the  river  beds  proper ;  and  are  not,  therefore,  obstruct- 
ing the  rivers  with  tailing,  causing  overflow  during  flood  times,  or 
damage  to  adjoining  lands.  The  dredge  men  have  for  years  been 
impounding  the  overflow  from  the  dredge  ponds  and  none  of  this  water 
is  allowed  to  flow  into  the  rivers. 

While  good  orchard  land  has  lieen  destroyed  by  dredge  mining,  this 
is  more  than  offset  by  the  benefit  derived  by  the  people  of  the  various 
communities  where  dredge  mining  is  carried  on,  and  good  results  have 
been  obtained  in  replanting  dredged  land.  The  number  of  profitable 
orchards  destroyed  is  ver^'  small,  probabl,y  not  exceeding  1,000  acres  in 


HISTORICAL  AND  GEOLOGICAL. 


13 


14 


GOLD  DREDGING  IX  CALIFORNIA. 


the  State,  and  most  of  the  hind  being  dredged  was  originally  unsuitable 
for  either  horticulture  or  agriculture,  and  had  nearly  all  of  it  been 
mined  by  the  different  methods  in  use  previous  to  gold  dredging. 

The  following  table  shows  the  number  of  acres  of  land  owned  by 
dredging  companies  in  the  different  counties,  the  number  of  men  em- 
ployed in  connection  with  dredging  operations  and  the  wages  paid  them : 


(.'ouiities. 

Acres  Owned 
by  Dredging 
Companies. 

Number  of 
Men  Ordi- 
narily Em- 
ployed. 

Wages  Paid 

Yearly. 
Estimated. 

Butte 

8,900 
5,500 

990 
12,500 

850 
1,000 

500 
2,000 

450 

550 
450 
12 
340 
40 
14 
12 
15 
35 

$575,000 

Tuba     - 

525,000 

Placer      ... 

14,400 

Sacramento         _     -         . .  . 

338,000 

Calaveras                     .    .                     _     - 

1 

Stanislaus    .     -      . 

1 

Merced         _                   .    . 

}■         134,600 

Shasta            -          _               __             .....  .. 

1 

Siskiyou       _  . 

t 

Totals  -     

32,690 

1,468 

$1,. 587,000 

It  may  be  of  interest  to  note  that  the  relation  of  this  branch  of  mining 
in  California  to  neighboring  interests  has  in  every  instance  been  such 
that  wherever  dredge  mining  is  carried  on,  the  ranches  and  towns  have 
been  directly  benefited.  To-day  great  activity  and  prosperity  exist  in 
Oroville.  Marj'sville,  Hammonton,  Marigold,  Folsom,  Jenny  Lind.  Cal- 
lahan, etc.,  places  which  were  almost  dormant,  or  did  not  exist  previous 
to  the  advent  of  dredging  companies. 

In  addition  to  gold  mining,  work  of  considerable  magnitude  and 
economic  importance  is  also  being  carried  on  by  gold  dredges.  On  the 
Yuba  Eiver  construction  of  gravel  embankments  to  confine  and  control 
the  flow  of  the  Yuba  River  in  the  vicinity  of  Daguerre  Point,  is  being 
done  for  the  United  States  and  the  State  of  California,  under  agree- 
ment with  W.  P.  Hammon  and  associates  in  exchange  for  the  right  to 
extract  gold  from  the  gravel  used  in  making  the  embankments.  These 
embankments  are  to  be  about  20,500  feet  long,  300  feet  wide  on  the  base, 
and  30  feet  in  height  at  the  highest  places. 


GEOLOGICAL. 

A  large  portion  of  the  gold  mined  in  the  world  comes  from  the  detri- 
tus of  gold-bearing  veins  and  rocks  caused  by  eroding  and  disintegra- 
ting agencies  which  have  been  at  work  ever  since  rocks  were  formed. 
While  there  are  localities  where  gold  has  been  recovered  in  large  quanti- 
ties from  placers  where  no  vein  mining  has  been  successful  or  important 
quartz  veins  discovered,  careful  investigations  would  probably  prove 
that  the  gold  in  the  detritus  came  from  auriferous  seams  and  veins  and 
from  the  rocks  immediately  adjacent  to  them. 


HISTORICAL  AND  GEOLOGICAL. 


15 


It  is  an  interesting  fact  that  the  largest  dredging  fields  in  California 
are  .located  on  three  of  the  large  rivers  which  drain  the  principal 
mineral  region  of  the  State,  on  the  western  slope  of  the  Sierra  Nevada, 
and  where  these  rivers,  leaving  their  narrow  canyons,  break  from  the 
foothills  into  the  Sacramento  Valley.  The  region  drained  by  the  dif- 
ferent branches  of  these  rivers,  which  are  the  American,  Yuba,  and 
Feather,  is  about  350  miles  long,  from  30  to  70  miles  wide,  and  has  an 
elevation  of  from  500  to  5,000  feet.  It  includes  within  its  boundaries 
a  great  portion  of  the  ancient  river  channels  which  were  mined  with 
considerable  profit  in  early  days,  and  the  present  river  systems,  while 
draining  practically  the  same  area  as  that  drained  by  the  ancient  rivers. 


No.   10.     General  view  of  the  Folsom  dredging  ground,  showing  old  placer  pits  previous 

to  dredging. 

run  at  right  angles  to  and  cut  across  the  ancient  channels  in  numerous 
places.  The  placer  deposits  of  these  present  streams  are  for  the  most 
part  the  river  banks,  bars,  benches,  and  flood  plains.  The  gold  they 
contain  came  from  the  disintegration  of  the  auriferous  slates  and  other 
rocks  and  the  quartz  lodes  of  the  bedrock  series,  and  also  from  the 
ancient  channels  that  were  cut  and  eroded  by  the  present  rivers. 

In  some  districts  portions  of  the  ancient  channels  can  be  traced  for 
long  distances,  and  their  continuity  and  identity  has  been  established 
with  certainty  by  the  mining  operations ;  in  other  districts  the  remains 
of  the  old  channels  are  fragmentary.  At  Oroville,  in  Butte  County,  is 
the  debouchure  of  a  great  river  coming  from  the  north,  corresponding 
to  the  present  Feather  River  and  draining  tlie  same  territory.  At 
Smartsville,  in  Yuba  County,  is  the  evidence  of  an  ancient  river,  appar- 


16 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


ently  the  counterpart  of  the  present  Yiilni.  In  Placer  County,  there 
are  remains  of  an  old  river  channel,  the  predecessor  of  the  American. 
At  La  Grange,  in  Stanislaus  County,  is  the  outlet  of  the  early  rivers  of 
Tuolumne  and  probably  Calaveras  and  Amador  counties. 

The  filling-  of  the  ancient  channels  is  composed  of  gravels  of  white 
quartz,  metamorphic  schists,  etc.,  with  layers  of  light  colored  clays  and 
sands,  and  they  are  generally  capped  with  volcanic  flows.  Certain  layers 
of  the  gravels  are  cemented,  probably  owing  to  percolation  of  silicious 
and  calcareous  waters.  The  present  river  gravels  consist  of  well  rounded 
pebbles  of  silicious  and  volcanic  rock  and  quartz.  The  size  of  these  peb- 
bles ranges  from  a  fraction  of  an  inch  to  cobble  stones  six  or  eiglit  inches 
in  diameter,  though  the  average  size  is  less  than  these  latter  dimensions. 

On  the  bedrock, 
large  partly 
rounded  frag- 
ments occasion- 
ally occur,  and 
sometimes  well 
rounded  boulders 
of  granite  and 
other  rocks  sev- 
eral feet  in  diam- 
eter are  found. 

All  the  gold  of 
the  valley  placers 
is   relatively   fine 

as  compared  to  the  coarse  gold  found  in  the  higher  altitudes  of  the 
present  rivers,  and  the  finest  particles  may  have  been  carried  a  great 
distance;  the  coarse  gold  has  probably  not  traveled  far  from  where  it 
first  lodged.  Undoubtedly  much  of  the  finest  gold  recovered  in  placer 
operations  was  first  associated  with  such  sulphides  as  pyrites,  galena 
and  arsenopyrites,  and  was  freed  from  this  association  by  the  decom- 
position of  these  sulphides  and  left  behind  as  free  gold.  The  smoothing 
of  gold  grains  is  caused  by  impact  with  the  sand  and  gravel  sweeping 
with  and  over  them. 

The  velocity  of  the  water  bringing  down  the  detritus  from  the  moun- 
tains regulates  the  distribution,  and,  to  a  certain  extent,  the  concentra- 
tion of  the  heavy  minerals.  Where  the  gravel  deposit  is  loose  or  porous, 
permitting  the  circulation  of  water,  mechanical  concentration  of  mate- 
rials after  the  gravel  is  brought  down  from  the  mountains  still  continues 
in  the  valleys,  caused  either  by  running  or  percolating  waters  shifting 
the  gravel  and  allowing  the  gold  and  other  heavy  minerals,  such  as  black 
sand,  to  sink  naturally  toward  the  bottom,  so  that  the  greatest  per- 


No.   11.     Ideal  section  old  gravel  channel  after  R.   E.   Brown. 

a,  volcanic  cap  ;   h,  upper  lead  ;   c,  bench  gravel ;   d,  channel  gravel : 
e,  bedrock ;   /,  rim. 


HISTORICAL  AND  GEOLOGICAL. 


17 


centage  of  the  gold  found  in  the  gravel  is  generally  found  in  the  lower 

portion  of  the  deposit  and  sometimes  within  a  few  inches  of  the  bedrock. 

At  times  the   gold  occurs   more   evenly  distributed   throughout  the 

whole  deposit,  caused,  probably,  by  a  more  regular  flow  of  the  distribut- 


<7000   O    0<7   O   OO   C?  O  <J    O  G 


00     O     O    O   O    rj 


o  t>  o  r>   o  < 


't'OooooooOooc*  00  <^  ^  o   000  o  o  o  00  000000  *^' 


No.   12.     False  bedrock  in  placer  deposit, 
fl,   top   soil;    /',   gravel;    c,   false   bedrock;    (/,   true   bedrock. 

ing  stream  and  sliglit  after  concentration.  Where  occasional  seams  of 
clay  or  other  material  form  an  impervious  layer  in  otherwise  porous 
gravel,  the  downward  movement  of  the  heavy  minerals  is  arrested  and 
above  these  layers  "pay-streaks"  will  be  formed,  sometimes  several  of 


No.   13.     Section  showing  bench  and  valley  placers. 

these  ''pay-streaks"  being  shown  in  a  cross-section  of  a  deposit.  The 
gravel  in  Sacramento  Valley  district  lies,  in  general,  on  a  stratum  of 
volcanic  ash,  forming  a  false  bottom  or  bedrock.  This  bedrock  over- 
lies other  gravel,  the  true  bedrock  being  the  slates  and  schists  which 
form  the  adjacent  foothills.  In  the  northei-n  counties,  like  Siskiyou, 
Trinity,  and  Shasta,  the  dcej)  canyons  of  the  rivers,  espeeiallx'  the 
Klamath  and  its  l)ranclies.  contain  larLic  amounts  of  gravel  which  lie 


2 — GD 


18 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


upon  a  true  bedrock.  When  the  bedrock  is  a  slate  shale  or  schist, 
affording  cracks  for  the  gold  to  settle  in.  it  is  often  found  profitable  to 
work  it  for  several  inches  in  depth. 

There  are  often  several  benches  or  terraces  along  the  sides  of  a  river 
which  were  a  part  of  the  river  bottom  w^hen  the  stream  was  at  a  higher 
level.  The  dredges  on  the  American  and  Feather  rivers  Avork  at  dif- 
ferent elevations  on  the  different  benches,  the  former  channels  of  the 
present  streams.     On  the  Yuba  River,  owing  to  the  great  quantity  of 


/'A^ 

~"^^^^S'*>^ 

X^ 

,  if 

^) 

/ 

3) 

// 

/^ 

J  J 

^ 

S3>> 

j^ 

No.  14. 


Ideal  River,  showing  accumulation  of  bars.     Crosses  show  the  most  favorable  spots 
for  the  deposition  of  gold.     After  J.   B.   Spur. 


hydraulic  tailings  covering  the  river  valley,  the  dredges  work  at  a  more 
uniform  elevation. 

In  washing  gravel  concentrates  of  heavy  minerals,  other  than  gold, 
are  also  collected;  magnetite  becoming  the  miner's  black  or  magnetic 
sand,  and  garnets,  which  are  found  in  schists  and  other  metamorphic 
rocks,  the  ruby  sand ;  in  addition  to  these  platinum  is  sometimes  found 
in  appreciable  quantities. 

The  presence  of  black  and  ruby  sand  is  regarded  most  favorably  in 
prospecting,  and  indicates  that  there  has  been  a  concentration  of  mate- 
rials in  the  gravel  and  the  possibility  of  gold  being  present,  though  it 
does  not  necessarily  mean  that  gold  will  be  found. 


PROSPECTING  DREDGING  GROUND.  19 


II.    PROSPECTING  DREDGING  GROUND. 


To  make  a  gold  dredging  proposition  an  economic  success,  experi- 
enced judgment  must  be  used  in  every  phase  of  the  work ;  preeminently 
is  this  necessary  in  the  details  of  prospecting  or  examination. 

There  have  been  many  failures  in  dredging  because  a  thorough  exam- 
ination of  the  ground  was  not  made  before  installing  a  dredge.  The 
tendency  to  build  an  expensive  plant  before  the  value  of  the  property 
has  been  sufficiently  demonstrated  is  as  pronounced  a  fault  in  the 
dredging  industr}'"  as  in  other  branches  of  mining. 

The  development  and  improvements  in  the  construction  of  machinery, 
and  the  overcoming  of  what  at  first  seemed  insurmountable  difficulties, 
have  greatly  broadened  the  dredging  field  and  relieve  the  engineer  of 
to-day  of  many  of  the  difficulties  that  he  was  confronted  with  a  few 
years  ago.  The  thorough  investigation  of  a  placer  deposit,  however,  is 
not  so  simple  a  matter  as  the  uninitiated  investor  is  often  led  to  believe ; 
such  investigations  should  never  be  carried  no  by  one  unfamiliar  with 
the  important  factors  governing  a  proper  determination  of  the  value  of 
placer  ground,  and  with  the  conditions  necessary  for  the  successful 
operation  of  dredges. 

It  is  difficult  to  give  any  one  factor  as  being  the  most  important  in 
the  examination  of  dredging  ground,  as  several  conditions  must  be 
favorable  to  insure  success.  The  gold  value  in  itself  may  be  of  minor 
importance  in  the  valuation  of  some  ground,  as  a  hard  uneven  bedrock, 
the  presence  of  many  large  boulders,  a  great  ciuantit}'  of  clay,  or  a 
rough  surface  contour  might  prevent  the  economic  dredging  of  ground 
with  a  comparatively  high  gold  content ;  it  may  be  said,  however,  that 
sufficient  gold  content,  the  feasibility  of  economic  operation,  and  the 
presence  of  enough  ground  to  warrant  the  cost  of  equipping  at  least 
one  dredge,  are  the  salient  features. 

To  obtain  information  concerning  the  value  and  character  of  the 
gravel  and  of  bedrock  it  is  necessary  to  sink  either  shafts  or  drill  holes ; 
frequently  gulches,  old  prospect  shafts,  pits,  or  hydraulic  faces,  are 
available  and  give  considerable  information,  in  a  reconnaissance  of  the 
ground,  perhaps  sufficient  to  warrant  an  engineer  of  experience  in 
advising  his  clients  to  go  to  no  further  expense  in  the  examination  of 
the  property;  he  would  not,  hoAvever.  be  justified  in  reporting  favor- 
ably upon  the  proposition  without  making  a  complete  examination. 
In  addition  to  those  conditions  whicli  influence  the  actual  operation  of 


20  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

a  dredge,  such  as  depth  and  character  of  gravel,  and  character  of  bed- 
rock, fuel  or  power  possibilities,  labor  conditions,  etc.,  there  are  others 
of  almost  equal  importance,  as  their  unfavorable  determination  would 
result  in  the  turning  down  of  a  proposition  that  at  first  glance  seemed 
meritorious ;  among  these  are  climatic  conditions,  transportation  facili- 
ties governing  the  cost  of  supplies 'and  installation,  price  of  ground, 
titles,  etc. 

Proper  examination  of  placer  ground  in  California  for  dredging, 
therefore,  involves  the  determination  of  the  following  conditions : 

1.  Value,  character,  and  distribution  of  gold  content. 

2.  Depth,  character,  and  cpiantity  of  ground  to  be  worked. 

3.  Character  and  contour  of  bedrock. 

4.  Water  level  and  available  supply  of  water. 

5.  Costs  of  fuel,  power  obtainable,  possilulities  for  hydro  electric 

power. 

6.  Labor,  transportation,  supplies,  etc. 

7.  Surface  contour  and  timber  growth. 

8.  Operating  costs. 

9.  Cost  of  land,  royalties,  titles,  etc. 

10.  Elsewhere  in  America  the  climate  might  have  an  important 

bearing,   and  in  foreign   countries   other  conditions  to  be 

considered  would  be  the  climate,  government,  taxes,  duties, 

etc. 

In  deciding  upon  a  method  of  prospecting,  shafts  should  always  be 

sunk,  if  possible,  in  preference  to  drill  holes,  as  the  results  from  drill 

tests  are  less  to  be  depended  upon  in  regard  to  the  physical  conditions 

and  the  prol)able  gold  content  of  the  gravel  than  those  from  shafts. 

Shaft  sinking  enables  a  much  larger  sample  to  be  taken,  gives  a  better 

opportunity  of  examining  the  character  of  the  gravel,  and  if  the  material 

taken  out  is  carefully  handled,  there  is  less  chance  for  error  in  the 

work  than  in  drilling.     Shaft  sinking,  however,  is  limited  to  favorable 

conditions  while  drill  tests  can  be  made  in  any  class  of  ground,  and  it 

must  be  remembered  that  the  value  of  nearly  all  the  dredging  ground 

in  California  has  been  computed  from  sampling  by  means  of  drills. 

The  chances  for  making  errors  in  prospecting  are  great,  and  the 
operation  is  one  that  requires  constant  care.  In  drilling,  a  careless 
runner  may  neglect  to  drive  the  pipe  ahead  of  the  drill,  and  pump  out 
an  excessive  quantity  of  material  when  pumping  the  drillings  from 
below  the  driving  shoe,  as  has  frequently  been  done.  This  may  some- 
times account  for  the  indication  of  high  values  that  are  not  confirmed 
in  subsequent  working  of  the  ground.  In  loose  ground,  the  pipe  may 
be  driven  too  great  a  distance  before  pumping  and  the  proper  amount 
of  material  not  secured,  as  the  drill  pipe  may  become  clogged  and  the 


PROSPECTING  DREDGING  GROUND. 


21 


core  fail  to  increase  in  proportion  to  the  depth  the  pipe  is  driven.  The 
element  of  risk  from  salting  in  secnring  samples  from  either  shafts  or 
drills  depends  npon  the  conditions  of  examination,  care  taken,  and  the 
experience  of  the  engineer. 

When  it  is  impracticable  to  sink  shafts  on  account  of  the  presence 
of  considerable  water,  prospecting  must  be  done  with  drills  and  experi- 
enced men  shonld  be  engaged,  and  every  })recaution  taken  to  insure  that 
the  results  obtained  are  as  nearly  as  possible  indicative  of  the  gold 
content  of  the  ground  prospected. 

The  gravel  mav  he  fine  and  sandv.  medium  or  coarse.     Fine  gravel 


No.    15.      Chinaman  rocking  gravel  from  shaft.     Oroville  District. 

is  one  in  which  ])ebbles  are  usually  under  two  inches  in  diameter,  and 
generally  nuich  smaller;  in  medium  gravel,  the  pebbles  run  in  size  up  to 
six  inches  in  diameter;  and  in  coarse  gravel  much  of  the  matei'ial  is 
larger  than  six  inches. 

Compact  gravel,  if  not  cemented,  can  be  worked  with  a  pick,  and  a 
pipe  can  be  driven  in  same  without  nuich  difficulty.  Loose  gravel  is 
easily  worked  with  a  pick,  and  is  one  that  would  re:piire  lagging  in 
shaft  sinking.  Quicksand  or  fine  loose  gravel  containing  an  excess  of 
water  is  liable  to  give  an  excess  of  material  when  drilling  for  the 
distance  sunk,  and  the  results  from  shaft  sinking  in  sucli  ground,  would 
probably  also  ]>e  too  high,  if  indeed  it  was  ])()ssil)l('  to  sink  shafts. 


22  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

In  sinking  prospecting  shafts,  it  is  best  to  use  a  uniform  diameter 
from  top  to  bottom,  as  it  facilitates  computation,  if  the  entire  content 
of  the  shaft  is  to  be  washed,  but  it  is  often  the  practice  to  cut  out  a 
small  section  along  the  side  of  the  shaft  from  top  to  bottom  instead  of 
washing  the  total  amount  of  gravel.  Square  shafts  are  not  often  used 
unless  the  ground  is  too  loose  or  wet  to  stand  and  needs  timbering,  in 
which  case  shaft  sinking  becomes  expensive  and  soon  passes  the  limit  of 
economy.  In  sinking  shafts  in  wet  ground,  it  is  also  the  practice  to  use 
round  iron  caissons,  usually  in  four-foot  sections,  in  place  of  timber 
lagging,  and  to  sample  the  entire  content  of  the  shaft.  In  very  wet 
ground,  however,  if  a  shaft  is  sunk  at  all,  it  is  best  to  check  it  with  a 
drill  hole.  In  case  where  a  heavy  flow  of  water  is  encountered  in  shaft 
sinking,  the  shaft  can  be  discontinued  and  the  remaining  distance  to 
bedrock  be  sunk  with  a  drill  hole. 

A  convenient  size  for  round  shafts  to  a  depth  of  30  feet  is  36  inches, 
and  for  depths  of  from  50  to  60  feet,  40  inches  diameter.  While  shaft 
sinking  is  generally  considered  cheaper  than  drill  tests,  the  cost  varies 
a  great  deal  with  different  localities  and  conditions.  Under  favorable 
conditions,  the  cost  of  shaft  sinking  ranges  from  50  cents  to  $2  per  foot, 
according  to  local  wages.  Timbered  shafts  in  prospecting  gravel  have 
cost  as  much  as  $25  per  foot. 

In  prospecting  with  drills  in  California,  the  Keystone  No.  3  traction 
machine  is  generally  used.  This  is  a  self-contained  machine,  equipped 
with  an  8-  or  10-horsepower  boiler,  and  operates  the  drill  by  means  of 
a  walking  beam.  For  fuel,  wood,  coal,  or  oil  can  be  used,  or  where 
electric  power  is  conveniently  available,  the  boiler  can  be  discarded  for 
an  electric  motor. 

The  casing  generally  used  is  about  6  inches  inside  measurement, 
5-16-inch  thick,  and  weighs  about  28  pounds  per  foot,  and  is  cut  in 
sections  of  from  5  to  7  feet  long,  which  are  added  as  additional  pipe  is 
required.  It  is  necessary  to  have  a  number  of  extra  lengths  on  hand 
as  it  is  at  times  impossible  to  withdraw  all  the  casing  from  deep  holes. 
The  outside  diameter  of  the  cutting  shoe  is  about  7}4  inches.  The 
threads  of  the  pipe  and  couplings  are  cleaned  from  grit,  and  are  gen- 
erally slightly  lubricated  with  axle  grease,  care  being  taken  not  to 
allow  any  grease  to  get  in  the  hole.  It  is  important  to  see  that  the 
threads  of  the  pipes  and  couplings  are  in  good  condition  before  using, 
to  prevent  the  loss  of  the  pipe  in  the  hole  when  pulling. 

Drilling  without  casing  ha^  been  done  in  hard  ground  that  will  stand 
without  the  pipe,  but  it  is  dangerous  practice,  and"  if  the  result  shows 
high  values,  they  can  not  be  accepted  as  truly  indicative  of  the  gold 
content.  It  may  also  be  the  fact  that  ground  hard  enough  to  stand 
drilling  without  the  casing  mav  be  too  hard  for  the  dredge  to  handle. 


PROSPECTING  DREDGING  GROUND. 


23 


The  casing  pipe  is  marked  for  each  foot  in  depth,  using  plain  figures, 
or  if  the  operator  desires,  some  private  mark;  the  drill  rope  is  also 
marked,  records  of  depth  and  all  details  of  operation  usually  being  kept 
by  the  pauner.  If  the  record  of  i)ipe  depth  is  not  accurately  kept,  it 
would  be  impossible  at  times  to  determine  whether  the  drill  bit  is  strik- 
ing above  or  below  the  cutting  shoe.  For  the  purpose  of  a  constant  base 
to  measure  from,  it  is  best  to  place  a  fairly  long,  wide  and  thick  board 
on  the  around  near  the  drill  hole,  on  which  the  drillman  can  also  stand 


No.  16.     Electric-driven  Keystone  drill. 

while  working.  It  is  important  that  the  marking  of  the  driU  rope  be 
occasionally  cheeked  as  the  ropes  stretch  and  the  drill  bit  wears  with  use. 
The  drill  ])it  and  stem,  weighing  from  800  to  1.000  pounds,  are 
allowed  to  drop  with  a  slight  slack  in  the  cable,  thus  loosening  the 
ground  by  the  impact  of  its  weight  on  the  gravel.  Tests  made  have 
demonstrated  the  advantage  of  quick  long  strokes  from  36  to  40  inches, 
the  drill  l)eing  arranged  to  deliver  from  55  to  60  strokes  per  minute. 
With  a  slow  stroke  the  loosened  material  is  apt  to  settle  between  strokes, 
causing  a  recutting  of  most  of  the  material  and  a  possible  loss  of  gold, 
aside  from  a  loss  of  time,  as  the  operation  would  take  longer  than  if 
the  drill  bit  struck  the  clean  core  each  time;  the  saving  of  time,  how- 
ever, is  a  secondary  consideration  in  sampling  placer  ground,  accuracy 
of  results  l)eing  the  prime  factor. 


24  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

There  are  several  types  of  drilling'  bits,  the  one  most  suitable  for 
gravel  and  sand  being  a  thin  bladed  bit;  when  drilling  large  boulders 
or  into  hard  bedrock  this  bit  is  sometimes  replaced  by  a  heavy  rock  bit 
made  with  a  wider  angled  cutting  edge.  This  second  bit,  if  used  in 
loose  gravel,  would  pack  the  material,  and  might  cause  some  to  be 
driven  from  below  the  cutting  shoe  to  the  side  of  the  pipe.  It  is 
important  that  the  drill  bit  be  kept  sharp  and  well  beaten  out  at  the 
edges.  Excessive  drilling,  caused  bj'  using  a  dull  bit,  may  cause  a  flour- 
ing of  the  gold. 

The  sand  pump  is  a  vacuum  pump  made  of  a  hollow  steel  cylinder, 
8  feet  long  and  4  inches  in  diameter,  equipped  with  a  valve  on  a  piston 
or  sucker  rod  which  travels  the  whole  length  of  the  cylinder,  going  to 
the  bottom  of  the  pump  when  lowered,  and  when  drawn  up  rapidly 
produces  a  vacuum  which  draws  in  sand,  slushy  water,  and  small  stones. 
The  plunger  must  fit  closely,  as  the  efficiency  of  the  pump  depends 
upon  the  suction  caused  by  the  rod  being  lifted  quickly.  The  valves 
of  the  pump  occasionally  require  repacking,  and  sometimes  a  leakage 
is  caused  by  an  obstruction  to  the  valve  seat,  which  is  readily  repaired. 
A  good  pump  will  draw  up  everything  in  the  casing  that  is  loose  and 
small  enough  to  be  taken  in,  gold  and  other  minerals  are  drawn  in  with 
the  sludge,  and  are  held  in  the  pump  by  the  foot  valve  in  the  shoe.  In 
drilling  above  the  water  level  or  in  ground  containing  little  water,  some 
water  must  be  kept  in  the  casing,  both  to  facilitate  drilling  and  permit 
pumping.  There  are  various  mechanical  troubles  that  occur  daring  drill- 
ing operations  that  are  not  worth  enumerating  and  are  easily  repaired 
by  an  experienced  drill  runner. 

In  starting  a  drill  hole  from  the  surface,  a  shallow  hole,  similar  to  a 
post  hole,  is  usually  dug  and  the  first  section  of  the  casing  to  which  the 
digging  shoe  is  attached  is  tamped  firmly  in  and  plumbed  with  a  spirit 
level.  Care  must  be  taken  to  keep  the  pipe  constantly  perpendicular, 
for  if  this  is  not  done,  the  casing  may  become  bent,  making  it  necessary 
to  abandon  the  hole  before  bedrock  is  reached,  a  bent  pipe  is  also  diffi- 
cult to  pull. 

If  the  driving  shoe  should  strike  the  sloping  side  of  a  hard  boulder, 
the  casing  might  bend  and  cause  the  abandonment  of  a  hole,  though 
the  work,  if  in  fairly  loose  material,  may  be  continued  by  turning  the 
pipe  slightly  in  the  hole. 

If  the  hole  is  started  in  top  soil,  the  pipe,  in  general  practice,  is 
driven  until  firm  ground  is  reached,  and  if  in  hard  gravel,  far  enough 
to  keep  the  pipe  in  place  while  drilling.  Some  operators,  when  drilling 
in  loose  gravel,  drive  the  pipe  ten  or  even  fifteen  feet  before  com- 
mencing to  drill,  but  this,  while  permissible  in  some  places  where  it  has 
been  determined  that  the  upper  gravel  carries  little  value,  Avould  be 
dangerous  practice  to  follow  where  the  location  of  the  values  is  not 


PROSPECTING  DREDGING   GROUND. 


20 


kuown.  though  it  is  often  encouraged  l)y  the  runner  as  it  nuikes  time. 
After  the  pipe  has  been  driven  to  the  desired  depth,  the  core  is  h)osened 
by  the  drill  to  a  depth  of  about  one  foot  and  then  pumped  out.  This 
process  is  repeated  until  all  the  material  in  the  pipe,  to  within  a  few 
inches  of  the  bottom,  has  been  removed.  Some  operators  first  drill 
several  feet  before  pumping,  but  pumping  is  g:enerally  done  for  each 


K 


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^^p|^-@v; 


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,'.-.r  «  v-:«i  •.-V*«='-*/kPv^       /vv^  ^-      \  ^N'        /^^ V  •«      •'  1^  I  ~'    '    C  I  I 

■  ".^-  .•  ^.•'  ov^.v^'-^--;.-W^^  ■.••■"-■■-■ 

-■     ■  ■  •  "-  ^-^:  '^.CP.--  '••  •■  ■■  '■■••■•■•■•-■ 

No.   17.     Drill  casing. 
a,   after   core   has    been   drilled   and    drillings   pimiped   out;    h.   core    in    casing    after    driving    and 
before  pumping;  r,  same  as  a,   casing  ready   for  ucxt   drive. 

foot  or  less  drilled,  several  ])umpings  lieing  necessary  to  clean  out  the 
core. 

During  the  drilling  of  a  hole,  a  core  sufficient  to  keep  outside  material 
from  entering  sliould  be  left  in  the  pij^e  before  and  after  every  pump- 
ing. The  depth  of  the  core  varies  with  the  nature  of  the  ground;  it 
should  be  of  sufficient  length  to  prevent  any  inrush  of  water  or  material 
from  the  sides,  water  is  also  kept  in  the  drive  pipe  to  offset  the  pressure 
from  the  outside,  as  well  as  to  facilitate  drilling.  When  drilling 
cemented  gravel  or  when  the  cutting  shoe  encounters  hard  boulders,  it 
is  sometimes  necessarv  to  di-ill  below  the  casing,  but  in  such  case,  after 


26  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

drilling,  the  pipe  should  be  driven  before  pumping,  though  this  is  not 
always  possible  and  it  is  occasionally  necessary  to  pump  material  from 
below  the  cutting  shoe;  any  increase  in  the  colors  at  such  times  must 
be  specially  noted  and  the  quantity  of  material  should  also  be  compared 
with  that  recovered  under  normal  conditions. 

The  gold  content  of  a  placer  deposit  is  seldom  evenly  distributed 
throughout  the  gravel,  but  is  usually  concentrated  near  the  bottom, 
one  tenth  of  the  material  drilled  often  containing  most  of  the  values; 
and  the  greatest  care  taken  with  the  balance  of  the  ground  would  be 
useless  if  an  error  was  made  while  the  pay  streak  is  being  drilled. 

As  the  drill  bit  and  stem  are  raised  out  of  the  hole,  any  adhering 
material  is  washed  back  into  the  casing,  so  that  it  may  be  caught  with 
the  sand  pump.  Two  or  three  pumpings  are  generally  sufficient  for 
each  foot  drilled,  but  this  depends  upon  the  character  of  the  material, 
as  from  some  holes  the  pump  will  bring  up  less  than  one  half  a  pan  at 
a  pumping  and  at  others  over  two  pans ;  pumping  is  repeated  until  all 
the  drilled  material  is  secured.  When  the  pumpings  are  taken  from 
the  hole,  they  are  emptied  into  a  sample  box,  the  material  being  caught 
in  a  pan  placed  in  the  box.  The  contents  of  the  pan  are  then  washed 
and  any  gold  colors  counted  and  recorded.  The  tailings  from  the  pan 
are  kept  in  a  tub  and  rocked  by  the  panner,  as  is  also  the  material  left 
in  the  sample  box  when  a  sufficient  quantity  has  accumulated  or  when 
the  panner  has  time. 

After  the  core  drilled  has  been  pumped,  the  casing  is  again  driven  and 
the  operations  continued  as  before,  until  bedrock  is  reached.  When 
bedrock  is  reached,  repeated  pumpings  are  necessary  to  -remove  all  the 
drillings  from  the  hole,  and  sometimes  when  soft  bedrock  is  encountered 
the  pump  will  loosen  material  that  has  not  been  drilled ;  the  color  of  the 
drillings  from  bedrock  is  noticeable,  however,  and  readily  recognized. 
If  the  values  recovered  appear  excessive,  they  may  be  caused  by  the 
drill  hole  cutting  a  rich  seam  or  small  pocket  and  the  results  should  be 
noted  separately  from  the  balance  of  the  hole. 

The  box  for  taking  the  pumpings  is  made  in  different  sizes,  sometimes 
]  2  by  14  inches  by  8  feet  long.  A  convenient  size  is  a  box  made  of  2-inch 
planks,  20  by  20  inches  by  4i/^  feet  long.  This  box,  held  together  by 
rods,  is  strong  and  easily  transported. 

The  size  of  the  rocker  varies  with  personal  ideas ;  it  is  often  made  20 
inches  wide  by  5  feet  long,  and  is  used  either  with  or  without  an  apron. 
The  use  of  an  apron  sometimes  facilitates  rapid  work,  as  the  tailings 
are  not  rerocked.  In  the  plain  rocker,  the  tailings  are  usually  rocked 
over  one  or  more  times,  according  to  the  amount  of  gold  in  the  gravel. 
It  is  preferable  to  always  use  clean  water  both  for  panning  and  rocking. 

The  tubs  in  which  the  panning  is  done  are  either  iron  wash  tubs  or 


»^ 


PROSPECTING  DREDGING  GROUND. 


27 


half  Ijarrels.  The  fine  colors  from  the  paunings  and  rockings  are 
usually  kept  in  a  small  dish,  and  at  the  completion  of  the  work,  amal- 
gamated. The  amalgam  is  put  in  a  small  vial  and  the  quicksilver  is 
later  separated  from  the  gold  by  nitric  acid,  after  which  the  gold  is 
washed,  dried,  and  weighed.  Some  operators  use  no  quicksilver  and 
separate  the  black  sand  from  the  gold  by  close  panning  and  a  magnet, 
after  which  the  gold  is  dried  and  weighed. 

If  the  gold  does  not  readily  amalgamate,  it  should  be  noted  in  the  log- 


No.   18.     Prospecting  with  Keystone  drill,   Shasta  County. 

book  and  the  cause  ascertained ;  it  may  be  due  to  a  coating  of  iron  oxide, 
the  presence  of  arsenic,  grease,  or  some  other  cause.  Sometimes  so- 
called  rusty  gold  will  amalgamate  after  rubbing  it  with  the  finger 
against  the  gold  pan.  AYhile  it  is  often  necessary  in  cold  weather  to 
use  warm  water  to  facilitate  amalgamation,  it  is  best  to  carry  on  the 
operation  as  nearly  as  possible  under  the  same  temperature  as  it  would 
be  on  the  dredge.  It  might  lead  to  error  in  calculation  of  values  if 
methods  employed  in  saving  the  gold  in  sampling  could  not  be  dupli- 
cated or  equaled  on  the  dredge.  The  physical  characteristics  of  the 
gold  determine  in  a  great  measure  the  percentage  of  recovery  made  by 


28 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


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PROSPECTING   DREDGING   GROIND. 


29 


PROSPECTING     l_CX3-BOOK 


JA. 


DATE      •^^J^rV,    /at- 


Contract  or  Optk 
Tract  or  Cla 


.  Ft.  Prospected  @ 

EMPLOYEES 


OCCUPATIOM 


PANNCR 
DRILLMAI 


LABORER 


DESCRIPTION 


TOTAL  Depth 


Size  OF  Shaft /,/^i--,.. 

^'EIQMT  OF  Ooi_D    /-?  ^         ¥ 
Value  OF  Oot-D.,^./^   <=«-»V^ 

VALUE    PER    CU.VO 7J~^  

CUBIC     FT.   IN   test    .^..»*fs3.    . 


'? 


\A/ATER   LEVEL. Srff. 

TOTAL    DEPTH    7.Z..i^.... 


REMARKS 


JT-:. 


^^^cr   7 


if^-y- 


iLf-t^'V'^  .^j.<Au>'.   udiAitJtj 


PROSPKCTOR 


No.  20.     Prospecting  Log  Book. 


the  o'old-saving  tables 
of  the  dredge;  when 
much  light,  thin,  scaly, 
and  tiour  gold  is  en- 
countered in  prospect- 
ing, it  should  be  care- 
fully noted,  as  there 
might  be  difficulty  in 
saving  same  in  han- 
dling large  quantities 
of  sand  and  gravel. 

The  black  sand  which 
is  caught  in  the  pan 
and  riffles  with  the 
gold  seldom  contains 
anything  of  value. 
There  is.  however,  a 
possibility  of  finding 
platinum  and  a  variety 
of  minerals  of  a  heavy 
specific  gravit}^  and  it 
is  always  advisable,  in 
a  new  district,  to  in- 
vestigate the  l>hick 
sand  carefully. 

The  practice  of  in- 
experienced engineers 
to  use  the  fire  a.ssay  in 
determining  the  gold 
content  of  gravel  areas 
is  more  widespread 
than  would  be  imag- 
ined; numerous  re- 
p  o  r  t  s  submitted  to 
dredge  operators  being 
based  upon  sucli  meth- 
ods which,  needh'ss  to 
say,  are  wortldess. 

\\\  prospecting  with 
drills  or  shafts  it  is 
necessary  to  keep  a 
sxsteiiKilic  set  of  logs 
for  references  and  cal- 
cubitions.      'I'liese    lo<is 


30  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

should  give  all  the  necessary  information  in  as  simple  and  comprehen- 
sive a  manner  as  possible.  Some  of  the  largest  dredging  companies  in 
California  have  used  the  Field,  Time,  and  Prospecting  log-book,  as 
reproduced  on  pages  28  and  29,  for  a  number  of  years,  and  find  that 
they  answer  every  purpose. 

The  Field  and  Time  logs,  which  are  kept  in  the  field,  usually  by  the 
panner  or  the  man  in  charge  of  the  drill,  are  made  in  convenient  size 
books,  about  4i/4  inches  wide  by  7  inches  long,  containing  50  leaves 
each.  The  paper  is  made  of  a  tough,  strong  cpality,  not  easily  torn 
when  wet,  and  the  books  can  be  carried  in  the  pocket  and  readily  used 
in  stormy  weather.  It  facilitates  matters  to  have  them  made  in  dif- 
ferent colors,  the  Field  log  being  usually  of  green,  and  the  Time  log 
of  yellow  papers.  The  leaves  of  the  Field  log  are  perforated  and  are 
torn  out  at  the  completion  of  each  hole,  and  the  information  copied  into 
the  Prospecting  log-book.  In  the  columns  giving  the  sizes  of  the  colors, 
in  the  Field  log,  the  largest  are  usually  marked  under  No.  1  size,  and 
the  smallest  under  No.  3,  but  this  method  of  grading  the  colors  can, 
of  course,  be  changed  to  suit  any  desired  arrangement.  The  columns 
for  depth  and  core  indicate  depth  after  pumpings  and  the  length  of 
the  core  left  in  the  drill  hole  after  pumping.  These  figures  added  give 
the  total  depth  of  pipe,  except  where  an  inrush  of  material  would  give 
an  excess  of  core  which  would  be  noted  under  remarks. 

In  the  Time  log  is  kept  a  record  of  all  work  done  and  also  difficulties 
and  delays.  It  furnishes  a  useful  record  for  estimating  the  time 
required  for  prospecting  similar  ground,  and  for  promoters  and  invest- 
ors who  are  anxious  for  speed  in  prospecting  a  record  of  this  kind 
would  be  an  education. 

The  Prospecting  log-book  is  made  5  inches  wide  and  12  inches  long, 
with  perforated  leaves,  and  is  of  sufficient  length  for  holes  up  to  60  feet 
in  depth.  It  should  give  a  summary  of  the  Field  and  Time  log.  as  well 
as  all  other  information  pertaining  to  drill  holes  or  shafts. 

No  average  speed  can  be  given  for  test  drilling  and  as  elsewhere 
mentioned  speed  is  subservient  to  accuracy  in  prospecting  placer 
ground.  However,  some  idea  can  be  gained  from  time  taken  during 
actual  tests.  In  loose  gravel  as  much  as  20  feet  was  drilled  in  12  hours, 
and  at  another  hole  on  the  same  property  in  cemented  gravel,  a  headway 
of  only  2  feet  was  made  in  the  same  time.  In  testing  shalloAv  ground, 
the  frequent  moves  and  resetting  require  time,  depending  upon  the 
distance  between  the  holes,  and  the  difficulty  in  moving. 

The  speed  of  drilling  generally  decreases  with  depth,  this  is  caused 
by  the  time  required  to  raise  and  lower  the  tools,  the  added  friction  in 
driving,  and  the  difficulty  in  pulling  the  casing;  sometimes  it  takes 
longer  to  pull  the  casing  than  to  drill  the  hole,  and  it  is  occasionally 
found  economical  to  leave  casing  that  is  difficult  to  pull. 


PROSPECTING  DREDGING  GROUND.  31 

In  drilling  on  one  property,  the  average  depth  per  day.  including 
delays  caused  by  bad  weather,  moving,  etc.,  over  a  total  period  of 
thirty-three  10-hour  days,  was  approximately  12.6  feet  per  day;  the 
holes  averaged  24.9  feet  deep,  the  character  of  the  deposit  was  medium 
coarse  gravel,  free  from  clay  and  overlain  by  hydraulic  tailings.  The 
wages  of  the  drill  crew  were  $12.25  per  day,  so  the  labor  cost  in  the 
above  examination  would  apparently  be  $1.01  per  foot  drilled.  On 
another  examination  three  70-foot  holes  required  eight  21:-hour  days, 
including  pulling  pipe,  moving,  etc.,  and  the  cost  for  labor  was  $1.71 
per  foot. 

The  following  figures  are  from  an  examination  undertaken  by  a  dif- 
ferent engineer  from  the  above,  in  rather  loose  deposit  of  sand  and. 
gravel,  the  boulders  of  granite  being  easily  broken  by  the  drill.  Twenty- 
four  holes  of  an  average  depth  of  2314  feet,  a  total  of  558  feet,  were 
sunk  in  twenty-six  9-hour  shifts,  including  all  delays,  etc. :  the  cost 
while  at  work  on  the  property  being  a  little  under  one  dollar  a  foot ; 
however,  as  some  of  the  men  were  brought  from  a  distance  and  their 
time  and  expenses  paid  while  traveling,  the  total  cost  of  the  examina- 
tion, exclusive  of  the  engineer's  fee,  would  exceed  the  amount  given 
per  foot  drilled. 

The  cost  of  drilling  varies  greatly  with  conditions  encountered. 
The  drill  crew  consists  of  one  drillman,  or  drill  runner ;  one  fireman,  or 
helper ;  one  waterman  and  team ;  and  one  panner.  Wlien  Avorking 
more  than  one  shift,  one  waterman  is  usually  able  to  supply  the  drill 
with  fuel  and  water  and  help  in  moving  the  drill  and  tools  from  one 
hole  to  another.  The  panner  generally  works  during  the  day  time 
only,  his  place  being  taken  by  a  watchman,  who  keeps  the  Time  log, 
during  the  night  shift.  However,  this  depends  to  a  certain  extent  on 
the  depth  of  the  hole  and  the  frequency  of  moA-ing.  The  wages  of  the 
drill  crew  are  usually  as  follows : 

Drillman    $3.00  to  S3.50  per  day 

Helper 2.50  to  3.00  per  day 

White  panner  3.50  to  5.00  per  day 

Chinese   panner   1.50  to  2.00  per  day 

Waterman   and   team   4.00  to  5.00  per  day 

Aside  from  the  wages  of  the  drill  crew,  other  costs,  such  a.s  fuel, 
repairs,  maintenance  and  hire  or  purchase  of  drill,  also  figure  in  total 
costs.  In  the  winter  months  heavy  rains  would  increase  the  cost  of 
transportation,  making  moving  difficult,  and  greatly  delay  work.  A 
serious  accident  to  the  drill  machinery  might  also  delay  the  examina- 
tion for  several  days  and  increase  the  cost  considerably.  It  is  generally 
figured  that  the  cost  of  drilling  runs  from  $1.50  to  $2.50  per  foot  under 
favorable  conditions. 


32 


GOr.D  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


Too  much  stress  can  not 
be    laid    upon    the    care 
necessary  in  drilling  op- 
erations  in   order   to   se- 
cure a  sample  that  would 
represent    as    nearly    as 
possible    the    value    per 
cubic  yard  of  each  place 
sampled.       If    the    work 
has    been    properly    done 
in  every  detail,   an  esti- 
mate of  the  gold  content 
of    the    property    can   l)e 
made  with  some 
degree  of  accu- 
racy ;  if,  on  the 
other  hand,  the 
work    has    been 
carelessly    done 
by  unreliable  or 
inexperienced 
men,  the  results 
obtained    would 
be  worthless. 

It  is  general- 
ly conceded  that 
the    careful 
m  e  t  h  o  d  s  em- 
ployed in  wash- 
ing the  material 
sample  d  will 
equal  or  exceed 
the  recovery  of  the  gold- 
saving      tables      of      the 
dredge,  so  each  hole  may 
be  taken  as  indicative  of 
the  value  of  that  portion 
of    ground    where    it    is 
sunk.       The    placing    of 
holes   in   relation   to   the 
character   of  the  deposit 
is  an  important  feature, 
for  though  the  mechanical 
details  of  sampling  eacli 


PROSPECTING   DREDGING   GROUND.  ;33 

hole  be  most  carefully  doue,  the  average  values  obtained  might  be  far 
from  representing  the  gold  content  of  area  under  consideration. 

In  preliiiiinar\-  examinations  and  in  prospecting  large  areas,  a  few 
holes  are  first  sunk  to  determine  tlie  probable  value  and  extent  of  the 
workalile  ground.  The  preliminary  lioles  should  determine  if  the  gold 
occurs  iu  wide  or  narrow  channels  or  if  it  is  fairly  evenly  distributed. 
The  ground  under  examination  is  then  divided  into  sections  or  squares 
and  lioles  proportioned  to  each  section. 

The  location  and  distances  apart  that  samples  should  be  taken  can  be 
determined  only  after  a  study  of  the  ground.  There  is  no  rule  as  to  the 
number  of  holes  to  be  sunk,  but  on  ground  which  shows  uneven  or 
spotted  values,  more  tests  will  be  necessary  than  where  fairly  uniform 
results  are  obtained,  and,  in  general,  more  drill  holes  are  required  than 
shafts.  Great  economy  of  time  is  possible  when  the  work  is  carefully 
planned  in  advance,  and  if  the  sampling  crew  consists  of  men  well 
trained  and  directed. 

The  quantity  of  material  recovered  per  lineal  foot  drilled  varies 
greatly  with  different  material.  In  drilling  compact  gravel,  the  volume 
of  core  will  be  greater  than  where  a  number  of  hard,  coarse  pebbles  are 
encountered.  In  drilling  sand  or  fine  gravel  containing  much  water, 
an  excess  of  material  may  be  pumped  or  if  the  pipe  is  driven  too  far 
ahead  of  drilling,  it  may  become  clogged,  and  too  little  material  be 
secured.  Some  operators  use  a  measuring  box,  holding  one  cubic  foot, 
and  measure  the  material  as  it  goes  to  the  rocker,  figuring  that  20  cubic 
feet  actual  recovery  is  equal  to  1  cubic  yard,  theoretical  quantitj^  of 
core  drilled.  This  factor  was  obtained  from  results  of  numerous  experi- 
ments on  one  field  and  can  not  be  applied  as  a  general  rule. 

Tests  in  other  fields  have  demonstrated  that  the  actual  recovery  of 
material  from  drill  holes,  in  compact  gravel,  has  at  times  been  95  per 
cent  of  the  theoretical  quantity ;  and  in  running  ground,  often  in  excess 
of  the  theoretical  core  drilled.  Good  practice  is  to  measure  the  total 
cpiantity  of  material  pumped  from  each  hole,  and  by  comparing  the 
results  from  all  holes  drilled  in  similar  material,  on  an  examination, 
a  fair  average  can  be  secured  and  used  as  a  check. 

A  simple  method  of  making  this  test  is  to  dig  a  hole  at  the  end  of  the 
rocker  about  3  feet  square  and  of  sufficient  depth  to  hold  all  material 
from  the  hole  to  be  drilled;  all  the  tailing  from  the, rocker  run  into  this 
hole  are  allowed  to  settle,  and  the  cubic  contents  determined  and  tabu- 
lated. 

A  dry  ground  containing  small  gravel  with  considerable  sand  would 
give  closer  results  in  drilling  in  relation  to  the  theoretical  content  that 
should  l)e  obtained  l)y  the  casing  than  other  kinds  of  gravel.  The  theo- 
retical quantity  that  should  be  recovered  in  drill  tests  would  be  the  con- 

3— GD 


84  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

tents  of  a  cylinder  having  a  base  the  diameter  of  the  cutting  shoe  and 
a  length  equal  to  the  depth  drilled. 

The  area  of  a  circle  the  size  of  the  cutting  shoe  is  a))out  .3  of  a  scjuare 
foot,  so  for  every  lineal  foot  drilled  in  depth  there  would  be  excavated 
.3  of  a  cubic  foot,  or  .011  cubic  yards,  which,  as  the  cutting  shoe  soon 
becomes  worn,  is  taken  as  .01  cubic  yard,  or  1  cubic  yard  for  each  100 
feet  drilled.  Using  this  factor,  the  method  of  determining  values  is  as 
follows : 

The  gold  recovered  from  a  drill  hole  is  reduced  to  value  in  cents ;  if 
in  a  new  district,  the  fineness  of  gold  must  be  first  determined.  The 
value  in  cents  is  divided  by  number  of  feet  drilled  and  the  result 'multi- 
plied by  100,  which  gives  value  per  cubic  yard.  A  less  simple  method 
of  arriving  at  the  same  results  is  by  using  the  factor  .27.  Multiply  the 
depth  drilled  by  .27  and  divide  the  recovery  of  gold  in  cents  by  the 
result,  to  get  value  per  cubic  foot ;  multiply  by  27  to  get  value  per 
cubic  yard. 

One  operator,  while  agreeing  with  results  obtained  by  the  use  of  these 
factors  when  drilling  compact  gravel,  believes  that  different  factors 
are  necessary  when  holes  are  sunk  in  other  material  and  uses  the  follow- 
ing factors,  having  in  numerous  tests  demonstrated  to  his  own  satisfac- 
tion the  correctness  of  same : 

(a)   For  compact  gravel,  the  factor  is .01 

(ft)    For  medium  gravel,  the  factor  is .011 

(c)   For  loose  gravel,  the  factor  is .012 

{d)    For  loose  gravel  and  sand  with  much  water,  the  factor  is .013 

To  calculate  with  above  formula  multiply  feet  drilled  by  factor 
selected  and  divide  value  of  gold  from  sample  in  cents  by  the  result 
which  would  give  value  per  cubic  yard ;  as  by  using  the  different  factors 
on  the  same  hole,  results  would  vary  considerably,  the  correct  selection 
of  the  factor  w^ould  be  a  matter  of  much  importance  and  could  only  be 
determined  by  experience. 

The  first  two  methods  and  factor  (a)  of  the  third  method  will  give 
the  same  results  in  practice  as  shown  by  the  following,  taking  a  hole 
40  feet  deep  that  returned  15  cents  gold  value : 
First  method : 

(15  -^-  40)  X  100  =  .375  X  100  =  37.5  cents  per  cubic  yard. 
Second  method : 

15  -f-(40  X  .27)  X  27  =(15  -f-  10.80)  X  27  =  1.389  X  27  =  37.5  cents 
per  cubic  yard. 
Third  method : 

(a)  15  -^(40  X  .01)=  15  -^  .40  =  37.5  cents  per  cubic  yard. 
If  factor  (c)  M'as  used,  however,  the  result  would  be 

15  ^(40  X  .012)=  15  -^  .48  =  31.2  cents  per  cubic  yard. 


PROSPECTING   DREDGING   GROUND. 


35 


To  estimate  the  value 
of  the  area  under  exam- 
ination,   the    value    per 
cubic     yard     as     found 
above   is   multiplied  by 
the  depth  of  the  hole  in 
feet  and  the  added  prod- 
uct   from    all    holes    in 
foot  cents  is  divided  by 
the  sum  of  the  depth  of 
all  holes  in  feet.    Some- 
times it  is  found  advis- 
able to  segregate  certain 
sections   of    a   property 
under  examination,  and 
it  may  be  possible,   by 
cutting    out    a    certain 
portion,  that  it  is  feasi- 
ble   to    eliminate,    perhaps,    at 
one  end  or  side  of  a  property 
that  the  remainder  would  be  of 
sufficient  area  and  value  to  pay 
to  work,  M'hereas  if  all  the  holes 
drilled  were  averaged,  the  total 
value     shown    might     not     be 
attractive.    There  are  instances 
in  California  where  a  portion 
of  a  property  under  examina- 
tion Avas  proven  to  be  a  pay- 
able dredging  proposition,  but 
the  necessity  of  having  to  pur- 
chase   a    large    unproductive 
acreage  in  order  to  secure  the 
payable  portion  made  it  unat- 
tractive as  a  dredging  invest- 
ment. 

In  estimating  the  value  of 
the  gold  contained  in  a  dredg- 
ing area,  some  engineers  take  a 
percentage,  generally  from  75 
per  cent  to  80  per  cent,  of  the 
total  value  indicated  by  the 
drill  pro.specting,  as  the  amount 
of  the  gold  content  recoverable 


36 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


by  dredging.  These  figures  are  based  upon  several  tests  made  in  the 
Oroville  field  and  are  also  percentages  of  the  prospecting  value  recov- 
ered from  certain  dredged  areas.  The  consensus  of  opinion  of  the  largest 
dredge  operators  in  California,  who  have  had  numerous  tests  made,  is, 
however,  that  it  is  impossible  to  give  any  fixed  percentage  to  offset  the 
various  conditions  of  operation. 

The  reliability  of  the  tests  made  and  the  accuracy  of  the  average 
value  indicated  b.y  either  drill  or  shafts,  depends  upon  the  care  taken 
in  prospecting,  the  number  of  samples  secured,  the  location  of  the  holes 
in  relation  to  the  character  of  the  deposit,  and  upon  the  experience  and 
standing  of  the  man  in  charge.  Work  done  under  these  conditions 
should  require  no  discounting  in  estimating  the  value  of  a  property, 


No.  23.     Continental  dredge,  ten  years  and  four  months  in  operation. 

down   November,    1909. 


Just  before   closing 


other  than  to  recognize  that  the  recovery  of  the  dredge  is  always  less 
than  the  gold  content  indicated  by  prospecting  and  to  figure  on  suffi- 
cient return  on  the  capital  invested  to  compensate  for  any  risks  taken. 

After  estimating  the  total  gold  contents  of  the  property,  it  is  then 
necessary  to  determine  if  the  returns  over  working  expenses  and  amor- 
tization of  capital  invested  will  allow  sufficient  dividends  to  make  it  an 
attractive  investment. 

The  life  of  dredging  propositions  differs  from  that  of  vein  mines  in 
that  they  can  be  closely  figured,  and  unlike  the  latter  industry  where 
the  profit  in  sight  is  figured  as  a  guarantee  for  the  return  of  only  a 
part  of  the  capital  invested,  the  redemption  of  the  cost  of  the  property 
and  equipment  must  be  allowed  for  during  the  life  in  sight,  which  is 
usually  determined  hy  having  the  dredge  equipment  of  sufficient 
capacity  to  turn  over  the  ground  in  ten  years,  as  the  life  of  a  dredge 
with  a  wooden  hull  is  generallv  figured  at  this  length  of  time. 


PROSPECTING  DREDGING  GROUND.  37 

While  the  rale  of  interest  varies  with  the  ideas  of  different  operators, 
it  is  generally  conceded  that  30  per  cent  of  interest  is  the  minimum  to 
be  figured  in  dredging  propositions  besides  allowing  for  amortization  of 
capital. 

Taking  the  Avorking  results  of  different  size  dredges  over  a  consid- 
erable period,  the  following  will  give  some  idea  of  the  time  which  would 
be  required  to  work  a  given  area  of  ground  by  different  size  dredges 
and  the  working  costs  of  same  under  average  conditions  in  California : 

An  acre  contains  4,840  square  yards,  so  an  acre  11  yards  deep  would 
contain  53,240  cubic  yards,  which  to  allow  for  places  lost  in  turning 
and  uneven  bedrock  can  be  figured  at  50,000  cubic  yards.  If  an  exam- 
ination of  a  dredging  proposition  determined  the  existence  of  500  acres 
of  workable  ground  11  yards  deep,  the  contents  in  cubic  yards  would 
be  figured  at  27,500,000. 

A  131/2-cubic-foot  boat  would  work  out  about  500  acres  11  yards  deep, 
or  27,500,000  cubic  yards  of  medium  compact  gravel,  in  about  ten  years, 
allowing  80  per  cent  working  time  at  a  total  operating  cost  of  3  cents  to 
4  cents  per  cubic  yard.  To  work  out  this  same  area,  two  7-cubic-foot 
boats  would  require  nine  years  at  a  cost  of  from  4i/.  cents  to  7  cents 
per  cubic  yard,  and  three  5-cubic-foot  boats  would  require  eleven  years 
at  a  cost  of  from  51/.  cents  to  81^  cents  per  cubic  yard.  The  costs  given 
per  cubic  yard  include  total  working  and  administration  charges.  These 
figures  being  taken  from  actual  cost  sheets  of  different  dredging  com- 
panies, operating  the  dift'erent  sized  dredges  in  California. 


38      •  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


III.    DREDGE  CONSTRUCTION  AND  OPERATION. 


The  standard  placer  mining  bucket-elevator  dredge  in  use  in  Cali- 
fornia consists,  in  a  general  way,  of  a  wooden  hull  or  pontoon  built  on 
the  lines  of  a  rectangle  with  the  forward  corners  slightly  curved.  An 
opening  or  well,  through  the  center  of  the  bow  or  forward  end,  extends 
back  to  the  middle  of  the  hull,  where  a  superstructure  or  middle  gantry 
supports  the  upper  end  of  the  ladder ;  the  lower  end  being  supported  by 
cables  which  pass  over  sheaves  on  the  front  gantrj^  to  a  drum  or  winch, 
so  that  the  ladder  may  be  raised  or  lowered.  A  line  of  buckets,  which 
excavates  the  gravel,  is  mounted  on  this  ladder  and  operates  through 
the  well,  rollers  being  fixed  on  the  upper  side  of  the  ladder  to  carry  the 
buckets.  The  buckets  fill  with  gravel  as  they  pass  around  the  tumbler 
at  the  lower  end  of  the  ladder,  and  carrying  the  material  to  a  height  of 
about  25  feet  above  the  deck  of  the  dredge,  dump  when  passing  over  the 
upper  tumbler,  which  is  mounted  at  the  top  of  the  middle  gantry. 
The  bucket-line  is  revolved  by  the  upper  tumbler,  through  a  train  of 
gearing  mounted  on  the  sides  of  the  upper  tumbler  and  belted  to  a 
motor. 

The  gravel  from  the  buckets  is  dumped  into  a  hopper,  water  jets 
being  placed  so  as  to  direct  streams  of  water  against  the  sides  and  bot- 
toms of  the  buckets,  thereby  freeing  any  adhering  fine  gravel  and  gold. 
From  the  hopper  the  gravel  and  water  pass  to  a  revolving  or  shaking 
screen,  which  separates  the  coarse  gravel  from  the  fine,  additional  water 
from  perforated  spraying  pipes  extending  nearly  the  full  length  of  the 
screens,  being  supplied  under  pressure  to  the  traveling  gravel.  The 
coarse  material  passes  over  the  lower  end  of  the  screen  and  is  stacked 
behind  the  dredge  by  means  of  a  belt  conveyor,  the  gold-bearing  material 
passes  through  the  perforations  of  the  screen  into  a  distributor  from 
which  it  flows  over  a  series  of  riffle  sluices  or  gold-saving  tables  on  which 
mercury  is  sprinkled  to  amalgamate  and  save  the  gold ;  the  fine  gravel 
and  sand  from  the  gold-saving  tables  pass  into  side  or  tail  sluices  extend- 
ing well  behind  the  dredge. 

The  rapid  growth  of  the  dredging  industry  in  California,  IMontana, 
Idaho,  Colorado,  Oregon,  and  Alaska  is  particularly-  marked  by  the 
development  of  the  large  dredge  and  the  use  of  the  close-connected 
bucket-line  and  digging  spuds  in  preference  to  the  open-connected 
bucket-line  and  headlines,  as  formerly  used  in  California  and  on  the 
small  New  Zealand  dredges. 

The  single-lift  dredges  on  which  the  upper  tumbler  was  placed  at  a 


40 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


sufficient  height  above  the  dei-lv  to  allow  the  buckets  to  clump  directly 
into  a  long  sluice  extending  well  behind  the  stern  and  supported  on  a 
pontoon,  and  the  double-lift  dredges,  which  dumped  the  material  from 
the  buckets  into  a  sump  or  water-tight  compartment  built  in  the  hull  of 
the  dredge  from  which  it  was  raised  by  means  of  a  suction  pump  to  a 
straight  sluice,  supported  by  an  auxiliary  small  scow,  and  extending  at 
times  more  than  75  feet  behind  the  dredge,  are  now  considered  obsolete 
machines  in  California. 

In  giving  a  general  description  of  the  California  dredge  it  will  not  be 
necessary  for  the  purpose  of  this  work  to  consider  the  various  mechan- 


No.  26.     8-cubic-foot  close-connected  buckets  loaded  with  gravel. 

ical  differences  in  the  construction  of  machinery  furnished  by  different 
manufacturers.  The  following  description,  therefore,  is  of  the  standard 
type  of  machinery  in  use  on  the  majority  of  dredges  in  California. 
Among  the  principal  manufacturers  designing  and  furnishing  machin- 
ery for  California  dredges,  are  the  Yuba  Construction  Company, 
Bucyrus  Company,  Marion  Steam  Shovel  Company,  Kisdon  Iron  Works, 
Link-Belt  Company.  Union  Iron  "Works,  and  Golden  State  Miners'  Iron 
Works.  The  principal  designers  and  constructors  of  California  dredges 
are  the  Western  Engineering  and  Construction  Company,  Yuba  Con- 
struction Company.  Risdon  Iron  Works. 

In  the  development  of  the  California  dredge,  the  digging  end  of  the 
machine  was  first  developed,  the  rest  of  the  machinery  increasing  in  size 
and  strength  in  order  to  withstand  the  additional  strain  caused  bv  the 


DREDGE  CONSTRUCTION  AND  OPERATION. 


41 


increased  capacity  of  the  buckets.  The  weight  of  the  buckets  has 
increased  from  500  to  over  4,000  pounds  each,  and  the  machinery  of  the 
dredge,  as  a  whole,  from  about  150,000  pounds  to  over  1,500,000  pounds 
in  the  larger  machines,  while  the  capacity  of  the  dredge  has  been 
increased  from  about  20,000  to  over  300,000  cubic  yards  per  month. 

Dredge  operators  in  California  prefer  the  close-connected  bucket-line 
to  the  open-connected  type.  In  practice  the  close-connected  line  dumps 
at  the  rate  of  from  18  to  22  buckets  per  minute,  while  the  open-con- 
nected dumps  on  an  average  of  from  12  to  14  buckets  per  minute. 
Under    ordinary    conditions    the    close-connected    bucket,    if    properly 


No.  27.     Lower  tumbler  and  bucket-line,  improved   Risdon  type  dredge. 

designed,  will  fill  to  better  advantage  and  handle  boulders  as  well  as  the 
open-connected  line,  which  in  hard  digging  gravel  imparts  considerable 
vibration  to  the  dredge  on  account  of  the  intermittent  spaces  between 
the  buckets.  On  some  of  the  older  boats  in  the  Oroville  district  the 
bucket-line  was  changed  to  close-connected,  thereby  nearly  doubling  the 
yardage  per  month. 

The  following  is  an  example  of  the  results  obtained  by  changing  a 
3%  open-connected  to  a  3Vij  close-connected  bucket  line — the  dredge 
being  operated  eighteen  months  under  each  condition,  and  showing  34.8 
per  cent  increase  in  yardage  handled  and  32.8  per  cent  decrease  in 
power  consumption  per  yard  dug. 

It  must  be  always  borne  in  mind  that  a  dredge  shonhl  he  designed  to 
suit  the  ground  in  wliicli  i1   is  to  work.      I>ucke1s  suitable  for  free  run- 


42 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN   CxVLIPORNIA. 


ning  gravel  and  sand,  with  a  total  aljsence  of  clay,  would  not  be  the  best 
for  either  hard  cemented  gravel  or  ground  containing  much  sticky  clay. 
It  is  difficult  to  dump  sticky  material  out  of  a  long  narrow  bucket,  and 
the  best  design  where  there  is  much  clay  is  a  wide-mouth  bucket. 

The  buckets  in  use  in  California  vary  in  capacity  from  3  cubic  feet 
to  13l^  cubic  feet  and  will  probably  soon  be  made  15  cubic  feet;  they 
are  usually  made  in  three  pieces,  consisting  of  bucket  bottom,  hood,  and 
wearing  lips.  The  bucket  bottom  is  made  of  a  special  steel,  and  is  pro- 
vided with  two  or  three  eves  at  the  forward  end  and  one  or  two  at  the 


No.   28.      13-cubic-foot  buckets   Folsom   No.   4   Dredge,    Folsom   District. 

rear  to  receive  the  bucket  i:>in.  The  hood  is  made  of  either  cast  or 
pressed  steel.  The  cast  steel  hoods  are,  to  some  extent,  used  on  the 
smaller  size  buckets,  and  the  pressed  steel  hoods  on  all  sizes.  When- 
ever it  is  necessary  to  reduce  the  weight  of  the  machinery,  pressed  hoods 
are  used  for  the  buckets.  The  wearing  lips  are  of  manganese  steel,  and 
approximately  12  inches  deep. 

The  use  of  cast  steel  or  pressed  plate  hoods  is  largely  a  matter  of 
preference.  The  cast  steel  hood  is  designed  with  a  shoulder  for  the  lip 
to  rest  on  and  a  shoulder  at  the  lower  part  of  the  hood  to  rest  on  the 
back  flange  of  the  bucket  bottom.  This  design  does  away  with  the 
necessity  of  many  rivets.     The  use  of  pressed  steel  or  cast  steel  hoods  is 


DREDGE  CONSTRUCTION  AND  OPERATION. 


43 


also  based  on  economic  ideas  depending  on  the  character  of  ground  the 
dredge  is  digging. 

A  design  of  bucket  in  which  the  hood  and  bottom  are  cast  in  one  piece 
has  been  made  and  is  being  put  into  service,  but  has  not  been  in  use  long 
enough  to  determine  its  value. 

Some  operators  believe  that  it  is  better  practice  to  discard  the  hood 
when  the  first  set  of  lips  is  worn  out  than  to  replace  an  entirely  new  set 
of  lips  and  hoods  on  the  partly 
worn  bottoms.  This  is  more 
feasible  with  pressed  than  with 
cast  hoods,  as  the  first  cost  of 
pressed  hoods  is  less,  and  good  cast 
hoods  are  rarely  worn  out  during 
the  life  of  the  first  set  of  lips, 
though  pressed  hoods  often  are. 

The  most  satisfactory  bucket 
would  be  one  with  long  life,  all  the 
parts  of  which  would  outwear  their 
usefulness  at  about  the  same  time, 
as  better  results  are  obtained  with 
a  complete  new  bucket-line  than  in 
running  new  and  old  buckets  to- 
gether. The  bucket  in  general  use 
is  designed  with  two  forward  and 
one  rear  eye ;  the  use  of  bucket 
bottoms  witli  three  eyes  in  front 
and  two  behind  has  been  confined 
largely  to  the  Yuba  and  Natoma 
dredges.  For  a  time  this  type  was 
popular  with  certain  operators,  but 
it  is  now  generally  admitted  that 
the  two-eye  type  is  better  and 
more  economical.  The  mechanical 
trouble  with  three-ej'e  bottoms  has 
been  in  the  cracking  of  the  steel 
between  the  two  back  eyes.     This 

is  probably  due  to  the  middle  eye  of  the  following  bucket,  which  fits 
between  the  two  back  eyes,  having  a  tendency  to  pry  the  back  eyes  apart 
when  the  pins  and  bushings  are  worn.  This  may  be  caused  by  the  swing 
of  the  long  bucket-line  on  deep  digging  dredges  after  passing  over  the 
upper  tumbler  or  when  the  buckets  ride  up  on  the  lower  tumbler  flanges, 
as  occasionally  happens.  Another  objection  to  three-eye  buckets  is  the 
increase  in  weight;  for  example,  a  7i{.-cubic-foot  bucket  of  this  type 


p^Kb 

'^ 

ti 

■VM'f'^M 

f 

^:  /  n  0  qf. 

1 

f3 

r 

I 

No.   29. 


Open-link   bucket-line,    Risdon   type, 
S-cubic-foot   buckets. 


44  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

weighs  from  250  to  350  pounds  more  than  the  corresponding  size  in  a 
two-eye  bucket,  it  is  also  claimed  that  it  does  not  wear  as  long,  costs  more 
to  finish,  and  causes  more  wear  on  the  upper  tumbler  plate  than  the 
two-eye  bucket. 


No.  30.     Two-eye  buckets,  showing  two  forward  eyes  and  one  rear  eye. 

.  The  bucket  pin  is  made  of  high  carbon  or  nickel  steel  forged  with  a 
heavy  lug  or  head  on  one  end,  which  fits  into  a  recess  in  the  bucket  bot- 
tom to  prevent  the  pin  from  turning;  a  rivet  placed  through  this  lug 


DREDGE  CONSTRUCTION  AND  OPERATION.  45 

secures  the  piii  to  the  bucket  bottom.  lu  the  rear  eye  of  each  Ijucket  is 
a  manganese  steel  bushing  to  take  the  wear  of  the  pin  and  lengthen  the 
life  of  the  bucket. 

The  ladder  carrying  the  bucket-line  is  constructed  of  steel  angles  and 
plates,  either  of  the  trussed  or  plate-girder  type.  The  upper  end  is 
Imng  on  the  middle  gantry  and  the  lower  end  carries  the  lower  tumbler 
bearings;  the  dredge  has  its  maximum  digging  depth  when  the  ladder  is 
at  an  angle  of  45  degrees. 

Some  of  the  ladders  are  equipped  with  a  spillway,  which  consists  of 
a  plate  fitted  between  tlie  sides  just  below  the  rollers  and  forming  a 
trough  the  full  length  of  tlic  hulder,  thus  returning  the  spill  of  the 
buckets  to  the  pond  where  it  can  be  again  picked  up.    The  rollers  placed 


No.   31.      Renewing  bucket  lips  and  hoods. 

upon  the  ladder  to  support  the  bucket-line  are  usually  nuide  of  high 
carbon  east  steel  and  run  in  self -aligning  bearings  provided  with  a  pack- 
ing gland  for  excluding  dirt  and  grit.  The  rollers  are  fastened  to  their 
shafts  under  heavy  pressure  and  kej^ed  at  both  ends. 

The  lower  tumbler  is  six-sided,  made  in  one  piece  of  open-hearth  steel 
casting,  and  is  fitted  with  replaceable  manard  manganese  wearing 
plates.  The  inside  of  the  flanges  opposite  the  eyes  of  the  buckets  are 
lined  with  replaceable  manganese  steel  wearing  tips.  It  is  claimed  that 
the  one-piece  tumbler  type  gives  better  satisfaction  in  ])ractice  than  the 
two-piece  tumbler,  which  is  made  in  right  and  left  halves  bolted  together. 
The  shaft  is  keyed  into  the  tumbler,  the  ends  being  supported  by  heavy 
self-aligning  bearings,  lined  with  renewa])le  bushings  and  thrust  Avashers 
to  take  up  the  wear  caused  by  the  side  thrust.  To  hold  the  shaft  in 
place  and  to  exclude  grit  and  dirt,  the  outer  ends  of  the  bearings  are 
enclosed  by  steel  caps,  while  on  the  itnicr  side  renewable  packing  rings 


46 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


exclude  the  grit  and  retain  the  oil  for  lubrication.  A  heavy  tie-rod 
extends  through  the  hollow  tumbler  shaft  from  one  ladder-end  easting 
to  the  other,  being  bolted  on  the  outside  of  the  cap  on  both  sides. 


There  are  several  types  of  upper  tumblers  in  use  in  California,  most 
of  which  are  made  with  six  sides  or  tread  surfaces. 

In  one  tj^pe  the  body  of  the  tumbler  is  cast  of  open-hearth  steel,  the 
tread  surfaces  having  machined  grooves,  parallel  to  the  shaft,  for  receiv- 
ing the  tongue  of  nickel  steel  protecting  cushion  plate.     These  wearing 


DREDGE  CONSTRUCTION  AND  OPERATION. 


47 


plates,  to  Avhicli  also  the  guide  lugs  or  ears  are  cast,  are  fastened  to  the 
body  casting  by  countersunk  bolts  or  rivets. 

Another  make  of  tumbler  has  the  guide  lugs  cast  in  one  piece  with  the 
body  casting,  each  wearing  face  and  lug  being  protected  by  manganese 
tread  plates  bolted  or  riveted  to  the  casting.     A  round  hole  is  bored  in 


No.  33.     Buckets  manufactured  by  the   Risdon   Iron  Works,    San   Franciscp. 

the  body  casting,  of  both  types,  for  the  upi^er  tu]nl)loi-  shaft,  which  is 
pressed  in  and  keyed  to  the  casting. 

The  cushion  plate  tumbler  is  the  most  expensive  of  the  two  types  and 
the  nickel  steel  wears  more  (|uickly  than  the  manganese  wearing  plates, 
but  causes  less  wear  on  the  bucket  bottoms  than  the  latter,  which  fact, 
some  operators  claim,  compensates  for  the  increased  price  and  shorter 
life  of  the  nickel  steel  wearing  faces.  Some  uppei"  tumblers  ca.st  in  one 
piece  with  the  tumbh*r  sliaft  have  also  proven  satisfactory. 

The  upper  tunil)]er  shaft  is  usually  driv(»n  at  ])oth  ends  through  a 
double  ti'ain  of  gearing  located  on  llie  head  frame  of  tlie  main  gantry. 


48 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


No.  34.      New  type  close-connected  Risdon  buckets. 

These  gear  trains  are  driven  by  belt  from  a  jack  shaft  located  on  the  main 
deck,  which  also  drives  the  ladder  hoist  machinery.  In  some  instances 
the  tumbler  drive  is  geared  directly  to  the  digging  motor,  double  gears 
having  cut  teeth  being  most  frec[uently  used.  The  tumbler  shaft  and 
the  intermediate  are  both  mounted  on  the  large  foundation  castings  to 
which,  also,  the  ladder  is  often  suspended. 

The  hopper  into  which  the  buckets  discharge  is  placed  directly  under 
the  upper  tumbler,  and  is  provided  with  a  so-called  rock  bottom.  This 
bottom  consists  of  a  receptacle  below  the  delivery  spout  constructed  to 
retain  a  portion  of  the  gravel  in  order  that  all  material  dumped  into  the 
buckets  will  fall  directly  upon  the  rock  bottom,  which  greatly  reduces 
Avear  upon  the  steel  of  the  hopper.     Additional  nozzles  are  generally 


No.   35. 


Structural  steel  ladder,   assembled  ready  for  installation,   plate-girder   type. 
No.   6  Dredge. 


Folsom 


DREDGE  CONSTRUCTION  AND  OPERATION. 


49 


No.  36.     Upper  tumbler  driving  gears  and  foundation  castings.      (Marion.) 


placed  in  the  dump  hopper  to  play  streams  of  water  into  the  buckets 
just  before  and  after  dumping.  The  proper  amount  of  water  to  use 
varies  with  different  kinds  of  material.  It  is  important  that  the  water 
is  not  used  under  too  great  a  pressure,  as  this  would  cause  some  of  the 
material  to  be  lost  in  the  well- 
hole,  by  splashing  over  the  sides 
and  backs  of  the  buckets,  and  if 
too  great  a  quan- 
tity of  water  is 
used,  more  water 
than  is  desiralilc 
for  the  best  saving 
of  the  gold  will 
pass  with  the  ma- 
terial to  the  screen. 
In  spite  of  the 
best  care,  some 
gold-bearing  ma- 
terial spills  from 
the  buckets  as  they 

4 — GD 


No.  37.     Upper  tumbler  drive  motor. 


50 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


No.  38.     Upper  tumbler  drive  on  9-cubic-foot  dredge. 


No.   40.      Interior   of   revolving   screen. 


DREDGE  CONSTRUCTION  AND  OPERATION.  51 

dump,  just  missing  the  lip  of  the  hopper.  All  modern  dredges  are  gen- 
erally equipped  with  a  save-all,  consisting  of  a  small  sluice  which 
projects  into  the  well-hole  and  extends  under  the  gold-saving  tables  to 
the  stern  of  the  boat.  Steel  grizzly  bars,  placed  below  the  dump  hopper 
and  extending  into  the  well-hole  some  distance,  prevent  gravel  larger 
than  li^-inch  from  going  into  the  sluice,  and  dump  the  coarse  gravel 
into  the  well-hole.  As  much  as  $700  a  clean-up  has  been  recovered  from 
the  save-all  on  one  dredge. 

The  screening  arrangement  of  the  dredge  was  not  developed  as  rapidly 
as  the  digging  end.  For  a  long  time  the  dredges  were  digging  more 
gravel  than  they  could  wash  and  screen ;  this  defect,  however,  was  over- 
come by  the  increased  screening  area  and  by  adding  more  water  under 
high  pressure.  The  screening,  as  well  as  the  digging  end  of  the  dredge, 
must  be  designed  to  suit  the  conditions  under  which  the  operations  are 
carried  on.  In  most  operations  a  revolving  screen  is  better  than  flat 
shaking-screens. 

There  are  two  types  of  revolving  screens,  the  straight  and  stepped, 
the  straight  design  being  the  most  used.  In  the  revolving  screen  the 
perforated  shell  is  composed  of  sectional  plates,  so  designed  that  the 
sections  can  be  replaced  when  worn.  Narrow  steel  bars  are  riveted  to 
the  surface  of  the  sections  to  carry  the  gravel  well  upward  in  the  rota- 
ting movement,  and  provision  is  made  for  the  shifting  of  these  bars  so 
that  the  whole  surface  of  the  shell  sections  may  be  uniformly  Avorn. 
The  screen  frame  or  skeleton  is  made  of  six  longitudinal  members,  com- 
posed of  angles  bolted  together  in  pairs,  and  riveted  to  the  tubular 
end  sections  carrying  the  friction  tires.  The  revolving  screens  vary  in 
size  according  to  the  material  to  be  handled,  the  diameter  being  usually 
about  6  feet  and  the  length  from  20  to  35  feet.  The  screen  is  carried  on 
two  cast  steel  friction  tires,  riveted  to  the  shell  plates,  and  in  operation 
is  supported  by  four  heavy  friction  wheels  or  rollers,  mounted  on  longi- 
tudinal shafts,  two  on  each  side  of  the  screen ;  the  two  rollers  at  the 
lower  end  acting  as  drivers  turn  the  screen  through  frictional  contact 
with  the  tires. 

In  the  stepped  design,  shoulders  are  formed  by  the  successive  reduc- 
tions in  diameters  of  the  shelled  sections,  and  retard  the  flow  of  the 
material,  which,  is  claimed,  gives  a  more  perfect  disintegration  of  the 
coarse  material.  These  shoulders  are  protected  by  renewable  manganese 
rings  and  the  sections  arc  renewable,  the  same  as  in  the  straight  type. 
This  type  of  screen  was  designed  by  Charles  W.  Gardner,  wlio  holds  a 
patent  on  same. 

The  shaking  screens,  wliich  arc  not  used  much  on  the  new  dredges, 
consist  of  perforated  steel  plates  mounted  on  a  flat  frame  and  driven  by 
crank  shaft  or  eccentrics.     This  type  of  screen  performs  the  same  func- 


52 


GOLD  DREDGING  IX  CALIFORNIA. 


DREDGE  CONSTRUCTIOX  AND  OPERATION. 


53 


tion  as  the  revolving  screen,  but  is  not  so  well  adapted  for  the  handling 
of  large  quantities  of  clay  or  cemented  gravel,  and  does  not  wash  the 
gravel  as  thoroughly  as  the  revolving  screen  when  claj'  predominates. 

The  diameter  of  the  holes  in 
the  screens  ranges  usually  from 
5-16  to  %-inch  at  the  upper  end, 


No.  42.     Revolving  screen,  straight  type. 

and  %  to  %-inch  at  the  lower  end  of  the  screen,  being  governed  by  the 
character  of  the  ground  to  be  handled. 

The  screen  casing  and  distributor,  which  catches  the  screened  material 

and  feeds  it  to  the  gold- 
saving  tables,  is  a  V-shaped 


No.   43.     Revolving  screen,  stepped  type.     Patented  by  Chas.   W.   Gardner.      Made  by   Marion   Steam 

Shovel  Company. 


54 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


trough,  in  the  side  of  which  gates  are  fitted,  one  at  the  head  of  each 
table,  for  the  purpose  of  controlling  the  flow  of  material  to  each  separate 
set  of  tables. 

The  trough  is  lined  with  renewable  wearing  plates,  water  being  fur- 
nished by  perforated  pipes  inside  the  trough,  and  also  outside,  to  assist 
the  flow  of  material  as  it  leaves  the  trough  gates. 


No.  44.     Standard  type  of  shaking  screen,  Indiana   No.  3  Dredge. 

There  are  two  types  of  tailing  stackers  in  use,  the  belt  conveyor,  with 
which  the  standard  makes  of  dredges,  except  the  Risdon,  are  equipped ; 
and  the  bucket-elevator,  which  the  Risdon  Iron  Works  recommend  with 
their  dredge,  though  in  their  catalogue  they  state  that  they  will  also 
furnish  the  belt  conveyor  if  desired.  The  size  of  the  conveyor  belt 
varies  from  28  inches  to  44  inches  in  width.  The  stacker  is  from  80  to 
145  feet  long  and  operates  at  an  inclination  of  from  18  to  20  degrees. 

The  rubber  conveyor  belt  requires  little  attention  and  lasts  about  nine 
months ;  this  varies,  however,  considerably.     On  a  7-cubic-f oot  dredge, 


DREDGE  CONSTRUCTION  AND  OPERATION. 


55 


the  service  given  by  conveyor  belts  varied  from  2,607  hours  running 
time  to  3,442  hours,  while  the  dredge  handled  232,000  cubic  yards  in  the 
first  instance,  and  664,000  cubic  yards  in  the  second.     On  a  3-cubic-foot 


jg^         />. 

\ 

B^^iy^'^ii^Li^^ 

gjMji^^ljl^i^jf^ 

?*^ 

mS^'      :ji:..JBS3^,':.   ^ 

No.   45.      Lattice   girder  type  tailing  stacker   ladder  for   supporting   belt   conveyor. 

dredge,  one  belt  lasted  3.213  hours,  while  the  next  belt  used  gave  a 
service  of  5,806  hours,  the  dredge  handling  over  double  the  yardage  that 
it  did  during  the  life  of  the  first  belt.     On  a  5-cubic-foot  dredge,  one 


No.  46.     38-inch  Robins  tailing   conveyor. 

belt  gave  a  service  of  6,380  hours,  the  dredge  washing  782,000  cubic 
yards  of  gravel,  while  the  belt  replacing  this  one,  lasted  only  3,871 
hours,  during  which  time  the  dredge  handled  475. 000  cul)ic  yards  of 
gravel.     The  characfer  of  the  gi-outul  luiiidlcd  ;iiid  local  coiidifions  gov- 


56 


GOLD  DREDGIXG  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


No.  47.     Showing  large  boulders  which  passed  over  tailing  stacker  on  the   Calaveras  dredge, 
Jenny  Lind,   Calaveras  County,   Cal. 


No.  48.     Bucket  conveyor  for  stacking  dredge  tailing.     Risdon  make. 


DREDGE  CONSTRUCTION  AND  OPERATION. 


57 


ern,  to  a  certain  extent,  the  life  of  the  conveyor  belt,  water  containing 
a  great  deal  of  sancl  and  grit  being  decidedly  unfavorable. 

In  the  manufacture  of  rubber  belting  it  seems  difficult  to  turn  out  a 
uniform  product.  It  has  often  been  the  case  that  two  belts,  furnished 
by  the  same  manufacturer  and  apparently  duplicates,  have  given  an 
entirely  ditferent  service  on  the  same  dredge.  Canvas  and  leather  belts 
for  conveyors  have  proven  unsatisfactory;  a  so-called  weather-proof 
leather  belt,  guaranteed  for  ten  months'  service,  was  tried  in  the  Oroville 


No.  49.     Ladder  hoist  with  automatic  brake. 

district,  and  lasted  only  six  weeks ;  canvas  belts  used  lasted  f rem  three 
to  six  weeks. 

The  conveyor  belt  is  easily  renewed,  and  the  loss  of  time  for  repairs 
on  this  stjde  of  stacker  is  less  than  with  the  bucket  elevator,  Avliere  there 
are  many  wearing  parts,  such  as  the  buckets,  bucket  connecting  pins, 
tumblers,  etc.,  refiuiring  repairs  and  renewals. 

The  bucket-elevator  stacker  has  not  given  satisfaction  on  the  large 
close-connected  bucket  dredges,  as  the  weight  would  be  excessive  to  get 
the  required  capacity  with  a  long  stacker.  The  modern  dredge  l)uilders 
and  operators,  excepting  as  stated,  used  tlie  belt  convej'or.  The  jniwer 
to  drive  the  stacker  belt  is  furnished  by  a  motor  placed  oitlicr  at  the 
outer  or  lower  end  of  the  stacker  frame. 

There  are  several  types  of  troughiiig  idlci-s  used  willi  tlie  l)elt  con- 
veyor.    Some  designs  have  sets  of  tlircc  oi-  Iniir  idler  ]iulleys  of  equal 


58 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


length  set  in  such  a  position  to  concave  the  belt,  and  another  type  has  an 
idler  pulley  in  the  center  with  two  short  ones  set  obliquely  at  each  end, 
in  order  to  raise  the  sides  of  the  belt  sufficiently  to  keep  the  material 
thereon.  The  latter  style  of  troughing  idlers  has  proven  very  satisfac- 
tory. The  belt,  returning  underneath  the  stacker,  is  carried  on  straight 
rollers  several  inches  longer  than  the  Aviclth  of  the  belt. 

The  ladder  hoists  are  sometimes  driven  by  a  separate  motor  and  are 


No.   50.     Port  winch  of  9-cubic-foot  dredge.     Folsom   No.   6. 

equipped  with  an  automatic  mechanical  brake,  so  that  the  winchman, 
by  operating  only  the  motor  controller,  can  raise  or  lower  the  ladder  or 
suspend  it  at  any  angle.  The  drum,  gears,  automatic  brake  parts  and 
shafting  are  of  steel,  mounted  on  a  structural  steel  frame.  jNIost  ladder 
hoists  are  driven  from  the  digging  motor,  the  drum  being  fitted  with 
two  large  hand-operated  belt  brakes,  and  from  another  pulley  on  the 
same  shaft  a  belt  is  carried  up  overhead  to  the  main  drive.  Friction 
clutches  are  employed,  so  that  the  ladder  can  be  hoisted  while  digging. 


DREDGE  CONSTRUCTION  AND  OPERATION, 


59 


The  winch  machinery  for  operating  the  side-lines  on  a  modern  dredge 
consists  of  eight  drums,  mounted  in  pairs  on  separate  shafts  and  fitted 
with  expanding  band  frictions  and  outside  check  belts.  Two  of  these 
drums  operate  the  bow-side  swing  lines,  two,  the  lines  for  raising  and 
lowering  the  spuds,  and  two,  the  stern  breasting  lines.  The  other  two 
drums  are  auxiliary  and  can  be  used  one  for  a  headline  and  one  for  hoist- 
ing the  stacker.     At  the  end  of  each  drum  shaft  is  a  drive  gear,  the  one 

for  the  bow-swing  lines  being 
fitted  with  a  jaw  clutch,  so 
that  the  other  drums  can  be 
cut  out  and  remain  idle  when 
the  swing  lines  are  in  use. 
The  gears  and  drums  of  this 
machinery  are  all  made  of 
steel  and  the  shaft  of  forged 
steel. 

The  majority  of  dredges  in 
California  are  operating  on 
spuds.  The  extensive  opera- 
tions with  spud  and  headline 
dredges  in  the  Folsom  and 
Oroville  districts  are  said  to 
have  demonstrated  clearly 
that  the  spud  boat  will  handle 
more  yardage  and  clean  the 
bedrock  better  than  the 
dredges  working  on  the  head- 
line. In  some  instances  the 
capacity  of  the  headline  boats 
was  increased  by  equipping 
them  Avith  digging  spuds. 
]\Ir.  Krug,  who  operates  five 
spud  dredges  in  the  Oroville 
district,  has  at  different  times 
worked  these  boats  on  headlines,  and  demonstrated  to  his  own  satisfac- 
tion that  the  yardage  per  month  was  less  and  that  the  Avear  and  tear 
on  the  boat  Avas  very  much  greater  Avith  the  latter  method.  Some 
operators  prefer  the  headline  in  light,  soft,  shalloAv  ground  having  a 
level  surface,  but  for  deep  ground  having  an  uneven  surface  or  in 
compact  graA^el  prefer  the  spuds. 

The  spud  dredge  is  equipped  Avith  tAvo  spuds,  one  built  of  structui-al 
steel  and  the  other  of  Avood,  .sometimes  both  being  of  steel.  The  steel 
spud  is  used  Avhile  digging,   and  the  Avood  spud   to  step   the  dredge 


No.    51. 


Installing  a   75-foot   steel   spud,    Folsom 
No.   6   Dredge. 


60 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


DREDGE  CONSTRUCTION  AND  OPERATION. 


61 


ahead  when  the  digging  spud  has  been  raised  at  the  completion  of 
the  cut. 

The  dredge  is  moved  to  right  or  left  through  an  arc  of  a  circle  by 
means  of  steel  wire  ropes  located  at  the  bow,  one  fastened  to  the  port 
shore  and  one  to  the  starboard  shore,  also  two  steel  wire  ropes  are 
placed  at  the  stern  and  fastened  in  a  similar  manner  to  the  shores. 


Bucket-line  in   operation.      California  type,   spud   dredge. 

The  headline  dredge  is  ecjuipped  with  four  side-lines,  similar  to  those 
on  the  spud  dredge,  and  the  dredge  is  kept  against  the  bank,  while 
digging,  by  means  of  a  heavy  steel  wire  rope  or  headline,  which  is  fas- 
tened to  the  ground  ahead  of  the  dredge. 

The  motors  and  pimips  vary  in  size,  according  to  the  capacity  of  the 
dredge.  The  table  on  page  62  shows  the  electric  motor  equipment  and 
the  size  of  the  pumps  on  California  elevator  dredges,  ranging  in  size 
of  buckets  from  3  cubic  feet  to  ISy^  cubic  feet. 


62 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


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64 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


The  electrical  equipment  on  dredges  requires  good  care,  both  from 
a  mechanical  and  electrical  standpoint.  The  electrical  equipment  on 
many  of  the  dredges  in  operation  caused  considerable  trouble  and 
expense  until  the  temporary  arrangements  were  abandoned  and  good 
permanent  work  substituted. 

It  is  important,  from  an  economic  standpoint,  that  the  winchman 
be  thoroughly  instructed  in  the  handling  of  the  controlling  apparatus 
and  operation  of  the  motor  ecpiipment,  operated  from  the  pilot  house, 


No.   54.     Type  of  switchboard  used  on  many  Oroville  dredges  for  low  voltage,  motors 
operating  at  440  volt. 

as  the  power  consumption  and  maintenance  can  through  careful  opera- 
tion be  materially  reduced. 

All  dredges  should  be  provided,  for  the  winchman 's  information, 
with  one  ammeter  on  the  bucket-line  controller  circuit,  so  that  he  can 
prevent  overload  of  the  motors,  thus  reducing  the  cost  of  power  and 
maintenance  of  both  the  mechanical  and  electrical  equipment.  To  pre- 
vent burn-outs  of  compensators  and  autotransformers,  and  of  the  con- 
stant speed  motors,  now  used  for  stacker,  screen,  and  pumps,  the 
attendant  in  charge  should  be  instructed  not  to  throw  the  starter  into 
running  position  before  the  motor  reaches  full  speed,  which  is  the  cause 
of  many  burn-outs  on  the  dredge.  It  is  more  satisfactory  in  these  and 
other  places,  where  a  slow  starting  weiglit  of  heavy  load  is  required, 
to  use  variable  speed  motors;  for  instance,  where  the  stacker,  on  an 


DREDGE  CONSTRUCTION  AND  OPERATION.  65 

inclination  of  from  15  to  20  degrees,  is  being  started,  loaded  with  tail- 
ing, the  starting  torque  is  very  strong,  causing  a  heavy  current  to  go 
through  motor  and  starter,  often  causing  fuses,  compensators,  coils,  and 
autotraosformers  to  burn  out,  which  will  not  occur  if  variable  speed 
motors  are  used. 

All  motors  and  starting  compensators  should  be  protected  from  water 
and  dirt  with  water-tight  covers.  The  transmission  distribution  points 
on  shore  should  be  provided  with  a  nonautomatic  oil  switch,  to  discon- 
nect the  three-conductor  cable  from  the  transmission  line,  or  in  places 
where  the  disconnection  can  not  be  operated  from  the  substation,  a 
triplex  cable  terminal  should  be  installed  to  secure  a  good  mechanical 
cable  connection. 

The  transformer  shelter  on  board  the  dredges  should  be  well  venti- 
lated, for  this  purpose  an  exhaust  should  be  so  placed  and  connected 
to  the  transformer  compartment  as  to  give  the  air  free  circulation, 
thereby  reducing  the  temperature  of  the  transformers.  This  exhaust 
could  also  be  used  to  ventilate  the  hull,  which  often  needs  better  ventila- 
tion. 

In  order  to  reach  the  transformers  in  case  of  fire,  a  sliding  door,  open- 
ing through  into  the  dredge  from  the  transformer  shelter,  should  be 
provided,  and  a  box  of  sand  placed  within  easj-  reach  to  be  used  as  a  fire 
extinguisher;  water  should  never  be  used.  A  good  automatic  safety 
guard  would  be  to  place  a  box  containing  sand  directly  over  the  trans- 
formers, having  a  removable  bottom  of  the  swinging  door  pattern,  sus- 
tained in  position  by  a  cam  or  level  held  in  place  by  means  of  a  light 
wooden  strut  which  Avould  burn  and  release  the  sand,  thereby  smother- 
ing the  flames  in  the  transformers  before  any  serious  damage  could  be 
done  to  the  dredge. 

It  is  important  to  provide  the  dredge  with  a  searchlight,  so  placed  on 
the  front  gantry,  and  operated  from  the  pilot  house,  that  the  winch- 
man  can  find  the  location  for  his  work  at  night,  and  for  shore  work,  such 
as  shifting  side-lines,  moving  power  cables  and  sheaves  on  the  gantry, 
etc.  Many  operators  are  using  lanterns,  which  in  stormy  and  rainy 
weather  are  difficult  to  handle  and  cau.'^e  delay.  For  headlights,  some 
dredges  are  provided  with  "clusters"  of  from  five  to  six  incandescent 
lamps ;  these,  however,  are  expensive  in  maintenance  and  not  economical 
in  proportion  to  the  lighting  effect.  On  the  front  gantry  there  are 
from  35  to  40  incandescent  lights,  using  from  18  to  20  amperes,  which 
give  insufficient  light,  are  expensive  to  maintain,  and  could  be  replaced 
by  a  six  to  ten-ampere  arc  or  scnrchliglit.  whidi  would  furnish  all  light 
needed. 

Two  disastrous  fires  have  demonstrated  that  great  care  should  be  exer- 
cised in  the  operating  of  electrically  driven  dredges,  as  both  fires  were 

5 — GD 


66 


GOI>D  DREDGING   IN  CALIFORNIA. 


caused    by    the    electric    cur- 
rents.    The  fire  on  the  Shasta 
Dredoing'  Company's  boat  on 
CUear    Creek,    near    Redding, 
i.   started  in  the  transformers; 
^    and  on  the  Viloro  No.   1.  at 
E    Oroville,    at    the    oil    switch. 

O 

S  This    latter    dredge   was    un- 
dergoing    extensive     repairs 

M  and  the  fire  may  have  been 

i  caused  by  the  listing  of  the 

>,  Inill  at  night,  due  to  insuffi- 

I  cient  caulking,  thereby  eaus- 

cj  ing     a     disarrangement    and 

u  crossing  of  wires. 

i  It    is    still    the    custom    to 

g  equip  dredges  with  sea  valves 

£  so    that    the    hull    mav    be 

c  flooded,  but  in  the  alcove  eases 

o 

S    they  would  have  been  of  little 

value,  as  the  fire  spread  rap- 

g,    idly    and    the    housing    was 

"    (luicklv   destroved.     Water 

^    tanks    were    placed    on    the 

>    roofs    of   some    of   the    earl}^ 

"    dredges,   and  this  practice  is 

•E    still  being  followed  bv  many 

e    operators.    The  loss  from  fire, 

S    however,  has  not  been  great, 

o.    considering    the    number    of 

£    dredges  operating. 

•o        In  the  Oroville  and  Yuba 

•n    districts,  the  electric  power  is 

^    usually  brought  over  the  pri- 

^    mary  line  from  substation  to 

I    dredge    site    at    4,000    volts, 

^    whence   it   is   carried   aboard 

^    dredge    through    shore    cable 

.    and      then      stepped      down 

""    through  oil-cooled  transform- 

z    ers  to  400  or  440  volts,  for  all 

motors.     In  a  few  cases  the 

current   is   used   at   2,000   or 

2,200  volts  for  all  motors  of 

50-horsepower  and  over,  and 


DREDGE  COXSTRUCTIOX  AND  OPERATION. 


67 


the  transformers 
aboard  the  dredge 
step  down  from  2.000 
to  440  volts  for  all 
motors  under  50- 
horsepower. 

In  the  Folsom  dis- 
trict,  the   current    is 
taken    aboard    the 
dredges    at    2.000    or 
2,200    volts,    for    all 
motors  50-horsepo\ver 
and     over,     the 
smaller     motors 
operating  at  440 
or    40  0    volts. 
The    current    is 
stepped       down 
aboard     the 
dredge    by    oil- 
cooled    transformers, 
the    primary    voltage 
being  2.000,  and  the 
secondary   440   volts. 

Some  operators  put 
the  transformers  on 
shore  in  place  of  on 
the  dredge.  IMany  of 
the  dredges  to  b  e 
built  in  the  near 
future  will  not  re- 
quire any  transform- 
ers, as  the  leading 
manufacturers 
of  electrical  motor 
equipments  are  now 
making  motors  as  low 
as  15-horsepower  to 
operate  at  2,000  volts. 
This  will  make  it  pos- 
sible to  equip  a 
dredge  w  i  t  h  all 
motors  designed  to 
operate  at  2,000  volts. 
^Fost    power    conipa- 


68 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


nies  in  California  are  now  able  to  furnish  electric  current  at  2,000 
volts  to  the  dredges  through  substations  conveniently  located  along  the 
high  tension  circuits.  The  elimination  of  transformers  aboard  the 
dredge  is  a  decided  advantage,  inasmuch  as  the  risk  of  fire  is  consider- 


No.  57.     Viloro  No.   1  Dredge,  destroyed  by  fire  September  2,   1909.     Oroville  District. 

ably  reduced,  the  insurance  rate  lessened,  and  considerable  weight 
taken  off  the  hull.  It  is  also  a  fact  that  all  motors  running  at  a  uniform 
voltage  of  2,000  volts  afford  more  economical  operation  through  the 
saving  of  transformer  losses  and  the  acquisition  of  better  regulation. 


No.   58.     Electric  cable  supported  on  barrel  pontoons  well  arranged. 

The  electric  power  is  brought  aboard  the  dredge  by  means  of  insulated 
cables,  usually  of  the  submarine  armored  type.  Some  operators  use 
floats  or  small  pontoons  to  carry  the  cable  across  the  pond.  This  is  con- 
sidered good  practice  when  the  floats  are  arranged  to  keep  the  cable 
out  of  water,  but  where  the  calile  is  wet  and  dry  alternately,  unless 


DREDGE  CONSTRUCTION  AND  OPERATION. 


69 


thoroughly  protected  by  rubber  hose,  the  iiisuhition  quickly  rots  in  hot 
weather.  ^Ir.  Carr,  formerly  of  the  Oroville  UretlgiiiL;'.  Ijiiiiited.  says 
that  he  has  found  it  most  practicable  to  carry  the  cal)le  under  water 
and  uses  no  other  method,  as  when  the  cable  is  completely  immei-sed 
the  life  is  greatly  lengthened. 

All  the  dredge  hulls  in  California  are  constructed  of  wood,  generally 
Douglas  fir ;  the  size  and  strength  of  the  hull  depending  upon  the  weight 
of  machinerj'  carried  and  class  of  gravel  to  be  handled.  In  construct- 
ing the  hull,  a  pit  is  usually  excavated  150  feet  square  by  8  feet  deep, 
the  hull  being  built  upon  a  temporary  wooden  frame  about  four  feet 
high  to   allow  room  for  caulking  and  spiking  the   bottom   planking. 


No.  59.     Electric  cable  supported  on  barrel  pontoons  too  far  apart. 

When  the  hull  is  completed,  the  pit  is  filled  with  Avater  and  the  hull 
floats  off  the  construction  foundation,  which  also  floats,  and  is  easily 
removed  from  the  pond  and  so  does  not  interfere  witii  the  operating  of 
the  dredge.  Some  dredge  hulls  are  built  at  the  side  of  the  pit  or  river 
and  launched  into  the  water. 

The  forward  section  of  the  hull  is  provided  with  a  center  opening  or 
well-hole,  extending  from  the  bow  to  the  tumbler  or  middle  gantry, 
and  of  sufficient  Avidth  and  length  to  allow  the  digging  ladder  and 
bucket-line  to  be  lowered  to  an  angle  of  45  degrees,  when  digging  at  its 
maximum  depth. 

The  size  of  the  timber  used  is  generally  as  follows :  Outside  and  bot- 
tom planks,  4  by  12;  well-hole,  stern,  and  bow  blanks,  6  by  12;  deck 
planks,  3  by  6  or  4  by  6.  The  framework  varies  from  6  by  8  to  8  by  12 
timbers,  according  to  the  size  of  the  hull.     The  well-hole  planking  is 


70 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


spiked  to  the  framework  of  the  hull  with  12-inch  spikes,  and  also  drift 
bolted  together  through  the  edge  of  the  planks  with  -yj^-iiieh  hy  30-inch 


No.   60.     Interior  of  dredge  hull  as  designed  and  constructed  by  the  Western   Engineering 
and  Construction  Company. 

long  drift  bolts ;  the  bulkheads  are  built  in  the  same  manner  on  each 
side  of  the  well  midway  between  the  well  planking  and  the  outside 
framework,  making  four  bulkheads  the  entire  length  of  the  hull. 


No.  61.     Showing  bow  gantry  construction.     Natomas  No.   3   Dredge,   Folsom   District. 


DREDGE  COXSTRLX'TION  AND  OPERATIOX. 


71 


The  dredtie  hulls  luiilt  during'  tlie  hist  five  ycjirs  liave  greatly 
increased  in  weight,  and  ai'e  strongly  braced  with  two  overhead  trusses 
extending  the  entire  length  of  the  boat  on  either  side  of  the  well-hole; 
also  an  overhead  truss  across  the  hull  in  the  center,  which  is  attached 
to  and  distributes  the  loads  upon  the  tumbler  gantry,  thereby  stiffen- 
ing the  hull  fore  and  aft  and  athwartships.     These  trusses  generally 

consist  of  14  by  1-4- 
inch  posts,  having  14 
by  16-inch  cap  string- 
ers, and  are  braced 
l^y  heavy  steel  diago- 
nal truss  rods  be- 
tween the  posts- 

To  prevent  the  for- 
ward pontoon  sec- 
tions on  either  side 
of  the  well-hole  from 
warping  and  sagging, 
which  was  a  fault  of 
the  earlier  boats,  the 
b  o  w  gantries  have 
])een  stiffened  and 
redesigned  to  form  a 
truss.  The  gantry 
now  consists  of  four 
posts  14  by  20  inches. 
rising  about  36  feet 
al)ove  the  deck,  two 
1)  e  i  n  g  located  on 
either  side  of  the 
well-hole  and  two  on 
the  outside  of  the 
bow.  well  braced  Avith 
steel  rods  and  timl)er 
struts. 

The  m  i  d  tl  1  e  or 
tumbler  gantry  posts  ai-c  16  1)\-  20  inches  and  of  sutificient  length  to 
support  the  ui)per  tumhlcr  at  a  height  of  23  to  25  feet  above  the  deck. 
The  stern  gantry  posts  are  14  by  16  iiu-lies  and  rise  about  50  feet  above 
deck,  resting  on  heavy  timbers  inside  the  hull. 

The  gantry  caps  for  the  5-cubic-foot  and  7-cubic-foot  machines  are 
usually  of  timber,  with  steel  side-plates  the  full  length  of  the  caps 
and  extending  down  the  gantry  posts,  giving  a  substantial  fastening 
to  same.     Tlic  larger  niacliincs  arc  pvovidrd  with  strurlui'al  steel  caps. 


No.    62.      Bow  gantry  construction.      Hunter   Dredge, 
ville  District.     California  type. 


Oro- 


72  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

The  spud  casings  are  usuallj^  built  of  timber  14  inches  thick  and  of 
sufficient  depth  to  take  the  spuds.  It  is  considered  good  practice  to 
place  on  the  stern  of  the  dredge  a  heavy  steel  casting  for  the  purpose 
of  taking  up  the  wear  and  tear  caused  by  the  rubbing  of  the  steel  spud 
against  the  wooden  hull.     See  page  189. 

Steel  hulls  for  gold  dredges  are  receiving  more  attention,  largely'  on 
account  of  the  increased  cost  of  suitable  dredge  luftiber.  Many  of  the 
dredges  in  South  America  are  equipped  with  steel  hulls.  The  use  of 
steel  in  place  of  wooden  hulls  is  due  mainly  to  the  insect  life  found  in 
these  parts,  which  is  very  destructive  to  wooden  structures,  and  also 
on  account  of  the  climate,  which  causes  the  rapid  decay  of  wood.  Many 
prominent  California  dredging  engineers  advocate  the  use  of  steel  hulls 
in  California,  claiming  the  climatic  conditions  destroy  the  lumber  hulls 
too  quickly;  but  this  is  probabl}'  due  to  defective  ventilation,  as  it  has 
been  found  necessary  to  place  adjustable  ventilators  so  that  a  current 
of  air  can  be  forced  through  the  wooden  hulls  in  order  to  prevent 
dry  rot.  Two  California  type  dredges  equipped  with  steel  hulls  and 
8%-cubic-foot  close-connected  buckets  are  at  present  under  construction 
in  California,  one  for  Burma,  India,  and  the  other  for  Colombia,  South 
America.     See  illustration  No.  63. 

The  single  bank  of  riffle  sluice  tables  is  used  upon  3  to  Ti/o-cnbic-foot 
dredges,  having  a  capacity  ranging  from  60,000  to  125,000  cubic  yards 
per  month.  On  the  8i/^  and  ISi^-cubic-foot  dredges  the  riffle  area 
obtainable  with  the  above  table  was  found  insufficient,  and  to  meet  the 
requirements  of  these  larger  dredges  a  second  set  of  tables  was  placed 
under  the  single  bank  tables,  thereby  doubling  the  gold-saving  area. 

The  introduction  of  the  double- bank  tables,  which  was  developed  by 
the  Folsom  Development  Company  in  1908,  has  increased  the  gold-sav- 
ing area ;  and  the  use  of  four  tail  sluices  of  different  lengtlis.  extending 
over  the  stern  of  the  dredge,  thereby  distributing  the  sand  and  small 
gravel  tailing  over  a  greater  area,  has  made  it  possible  to  discard  the 
use  of  the  sand  pump,  which  was  always  a  source  of  annoyance  and 
expense. 

The  construction  of  the  single-bank  tables  is  usually  of  Avood,  the  tail 
sluices  on  this  type  of  table  extend  about  20  feet  over  the  stern  of  the 
dredge.  In  the  construction  of  the  double-bank  tables,  both  the  upper 
and  lower  set  are  made  of  steel.  The  tailing  sluices  from  the  lower 
bank  tables  extend  only  a  short  distance  over  the  stern  of  the  dredge, 
about  20  feet,  while  in  the  case  of  the  upper  bank  of  tables,  the  upper 
tail  sluices  extend  a  distance  of  nearly  40  feet  over  the  stern  of  the 
dredge.  The  tables  are  covered  with  so-called  Hungarian  riffles,  con- 
sisting either  of  strips  of  beveled  soft  pine,  shod  with  %  by  114-inch 
strapiron  or  of  angle-irons  1  by  1  by  3-16-inch  riveted  together. 


\ 


[,lHef\aL  drawiHi; 
BiCU.FT.  PLACER  MININi;  DREDtiE: 


YUBA  GDNBTRUCTIDN   CD 

5VILLC,   CAL.  .U5.A.' 


No.  63.     Dredge  of  the  Orcville  Dredging  Co.,  Limited,   Colombia,   South  America. 


DREDGE  CONSTRUCTION  AND  OPERATION. 


73 


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No.   64.      Double-bank  gold-saving   tables. 


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DREDGE  CONSTRUCTION  AND  OPERATION. 


73 


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No.   64.      Double-bank  gold-saving   tables. 


74 


CiOI.D   DREDGING   IX    CALIFORNIA. 


No.  65.     Lower  bank  of  gold-saving  tables  on  a  double-bank  dredge.     Folsom   No.   6. 


No.   66.     Upper   bank  of  gold-saving  tables  on  a  double-bank  dredge.      Clean-up   box   on  right. 

Folsom    No.   6. 


DREDGE  COXSTRUCTION  AND  OPERATION. 


75 


Among'  the  many  different  designs  of  riffles,  the  angle-iron  type  of 
Hungarian  riffle  is  eonsidered  by  many  as  the  most  effective.  This  con- 
sists of  a  series  of  angle-irons  spaced  2y2-inch  center  with  the  horizontal 
leg  placed  so  that  it  points  downstream.  The  water  passing  over  the 
riffles  forms  an  eddy  under  the  projecting  leg.  which  protects  the  quick- 
silver and  facilitates  the  catching  of  the  gold.  The  riffle  frames  are  set 
with  the  riffles  across  the  current  a)]d  are  sometimes  alternated  with 
plain  iron  bar  riffle  frames  set  in  the  direction  of  the  How.  Mercury  is 
usually  fed  at  I'cgulai'  inteiwals  into  the  top  of  tlic  sluice.     Small  quan- 


No.  67.     A  general  view  of  the  Holmes  type  of  gold-saving  tables.      Showing   clean-up 
device  suspended   in  background.      El   Oro   Dredge.      Oroville    District. 

titles  of  quicksilver  in  the  sluices  and  the  l)reak  in  the  current,  caused 
by  the  eddy  of  the  riffles,  help  to  secure  amalgamation. 

The  most  efficient  grade  for  the  tables  and  sluices  is  considered  to  be 
11/2  inches  per  foot.  The  quantity  of  water  used  varies  (()nsideral)ly  and 
depends  a  great  deal  upon  the  amount  and  charactei-  of  the  material 
washed,  as  well  as  on  the  personal  judgment  of  the  opcratoi-.  There 
are,  pro])ably.  few  cases  in  which  the  e.xact  quantity  of  water  used  lias 
been  determined.  Some  oi)erators  claim  they  do  not  use  more  than  100 
inches  in  general  operations  at  any  time,  while  others  claim  to  use  an 
average  of  .300  inches. 

It  is  aimed  to  .so  regulate  the  grade  of  the  tables  or  sluices  and  the 
flow  of  the  water,  that  all  the  gold  will  come  in  contact  with  the  (piick- 


76  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

silver.  Fine  gold  may  be  carried  off  by  the  water  flowing  over  the  riffles 
in  too  great  a  quantity  or  under  too  much  speed.  On  the  other  hand, 
if  the  grade  is  too  flat  or  the  volume  of  water  low,  an  accumulation  of 
sand  may  cover  the  mercury  and  amalgamation  be  hindered.  This  is 
especiallj^  the  ease  when  the  gravel  contains  a  great  deal  of  black  sand, 
which,  owing  to  its  weight,  lodges  readily  between  the  riffles. 

In  the  Holmes  method  of  riffle  tables  and  launders,  a  wide  steel  tray 
is  placed  directly  under  the  screen,  sloping  in  the  same  direction,  and 
fitted  either  with  or  without  riffles.  This  steel  tray,  which  catches  the 
screening,  empties  on  to  another  tray  sloping  in  the  opposite  direction, 
which  in  turn  delivers  the  material  on  to  a  set  of  divided  sluices  fitted 
with  riffles  and  sloping  towards  the  stern  on  either  side  of  the  dredge. 
The  whole  gold-saving  arrangement  is  generally  constructed  of  steel. 

A  system  of  riffles,  patented  bj^  James  H.  Leggett,  is  composed  of  li/o- 
inch  angle-iron,  so  arranged  in  the  sluices  that  the  iron  lies  longitudi- 
nally with  the  flow.  The  space  between  the  angle-iron  is  filled  with 
medium  sized  pebbles,  which  lodge  naturally  when  the  gravel  is  allowed 
to  flow  over  the  riffles,  immediately  after  clean-ups,  through  openings 
in  the  upper  end  of  the  screens  arranged  for  this  purpose. 

The  entire  sluice  system,  which  is  continuous  and  not  side-distribut- 
ing, is  equipped  with  these  self -paving  angle-iron  riffles  and  is  somewhat 
similar  to  the  Holmes  tables.  These  riffles  admit  of  rapid  clean-ups, 
requiring  less  than  one  hour.  The  gold  is  caught  and  sinks  into  the 
spaces  between  the  pebbles;  the  gathering  of  amalgam  on  top  of  the 
riffles  and  the  consequent  risk  of  the  gold  being  picked  up  by  undis- 
solved clay  and  lost  is  avoided. 

Quicksilver  is  distributed  over  the  entire  area  after  each  clean-up  and 
repaving,  and  small  quantities  are  added  daily.  It  is  found  in  the 
clean-ups  that  where  the  water  reverses  in  flowing  from  one  sluice  to 
another,  that  the  first  half  of  the  succeeding  table  contains  the  con- 
centrated amalgam.  Careful  tests,  made  over  a  period  of  three  months, 
demonstrated  a  high  recovery  of  the  gold  content  by  this  system. 

Some  boats  are  so  arranged  that  should  a  streak  of  clay  or  gravel  con- 
taining much  of  such  plastic  material  which  would  be  liable  to  pick  up 
any  gold  or  amalgam  it  comes  in  contact  with  while  passing  over  the 
riffles  be  encountered,  the  winchman  can,  without  interfering  with  the 
working  of  the  dredge,  divert  this  material  into  separate  sluices. 

The  time  required  to  clean  up  the  tables  and  sluices  varies  on  the 
different  dredges,  and  the  frequency  of  the  operation  depends  upon  the 
judgment  of  the  man  in  charge  and  the  nature  of  the  material  handled. 
It  is  important  that  the  clean-up  is  not  made  oftener  than  is  necessary 
to  prevent  loss  by  overloading  the  riffles.  The  speed  with  which  the 
clean-up  is  accomplished  is  also  an  important  item,  as  the  dredges  are 
usually  shut  down  during  the  operation,  though  in  some  cases  the  dig- 


DREDGE  CONSTRUCTION  AND  OPERATION. 


77 


78  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

gini^'  is  not  interrupted,  as  the  entire  flow  of  material  from  the  screen 
is  diverted  to  some  of  the  tables  while  the  others  are  being  cleaned.  It 
is  customary  on  clean-up  days  to  overhaul  the  machinery  and  make  any 
minor  repairs  that  are  necessary. 

The  method  used  in  cleaning  up  varies  according  to  the  idea  of  the 
different  operators,  but  the  principle  is  much  the  same.  Commencing 
at  the  upper  end,  the  riffle  frames  are  taken  up  and  washed  and  laid 
aside.     A  hose  is  used  to  assist  in  gathering  the  amalgam  and  con- 


No.  69.     Folsom  No.  4  Dredge,  showing  clean-up  vat  and  sluice. 

centrates,  which  are  then  scraped  into  buckets.  dep<  sited  in  vats,  and 
later  carefully  fed  into  a  small  sluice,  usually  on  the  order  of  a  long-tom 
ecpiipped  with  stops,  mercury  traps,  and  riffles ;  the  amalgam  and  quick- 
silver is  collected  and  strained  and  the  amalgam  is  retorted  and  melted. 
In  some  districts  a  great  deal  of  shot  lead,  iron  nails,  coins  and  orna- 
ments are  picked  up  by  the  dredges  and  lodge  in  the  tables.  This 
material,  which  all  collects  some  amalgam,  forms  a  second  product, 
which  is  treated  whenever  a  sufficient  quantity  accumulates  and  shipped 
in  the  form  of  a  base  bullion. 

The  loss  of  gold  from  the  gold-saving  tables  and  sluices  is,  probably. 


DREDGE  CONSTRUCTION  AND  OPERATION. 


79 


80 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


in  most  cases  a  great  deal  less  than  is  ordinarily  supposed.  Many  tests 
have  been  made  in  the  various  districts  to  determine  the  amount  of  these 
losses,  and  in  most  cases  the  loss  was  found  to  be  small. 

It  is  very  difficult  to  thoroughly  sample  the  dredge  tailing  and  to 
determine  the  difference  between  the  actual  gold  content  of  the  ground 
and  the  recovery  on  the  dredge.  In  one  of  the  most  thorough  tests 
made  for  this  purpose  a  small  bucket  elevator  was  used,  the  material 
being  taken  through  perforations  in  the  bottom  of  the  tail  sluice  and 
passed  to  a  small  wooden  sump  in  which  the  lower  sprocket  wheel  of  the 
elevator  was  mounted.     The  material  was  somewhat  concentrated  owing 


No.   71.     Corner  in  retorting  room  at  Natoma. 

to  the  method  of  collection,  but  this  could  not  be  avoided.  The  speed  of 
the  elevator  was  arranged  so  that  at  the  end  of  each  shift  approxi- 
mately two  cubic  yards  of  material  would  be  collected,  which  was  then 
carefully  rocked  and  panned. 

All  of  these  tests  showed  an  appreciable  loss  both  of  quicksilver  and 
amalgam  by  the  dredge,  but  what  the  exact  percentage  of  loss  was  as 
compared  to  the  gold  content  of  the  yardage  handled  during  the  time  of 
the  test  is  difficult  to  state.  It  is  estimated  by  those  competent  to  judge 
that  the  average  loss  in  dredging,  while  varying  Avith  different  condi- 
tions, methods  of  operating,  and  effideney  of  labor,  does  not  exceed  10 
per  cent  of  the  total  gold  content  of  the  material  handled,  and  on  care- 
fully operated  boats  probably  not  over  5  per  cent,  which  would  compare 
favorably  with  any  other  form  of  placer  mining. 

Several  tests  were  made  bv  the  Viloro  Svndicate,  Limited,  and  other 


DREDGE   CONSTRUCTION   AND  OPERATION. 


81 


companies  at  Oroville,  to  determine  the  platinum  content  of  the  ground 
and  the  loss  of  platinum  in  dredging  operations.  The  loss  of  platinum, 
while  appreciable,  was  found  insufficient  to  warrant  the  installation  of 
suitable  concentrating  machinery  to  recover  same. 

The  working  time  of  a  dredge  is  twenty-four  hours,  divided  into  three 
eight-hour  shifts.  Each  dredge  is  usually  operated  by  a  crew  of  nine 
men,  one  dredgemaster  and  one  shoreman,  making  a  total  of  eleven  men. 
Occasionally  additional  men  are  employed,  usually  on  day  shift,  as 
special  work  may  require.  The  usual  dredge  crew  of  one  shift  consists 
of  a  winchman  and  two  oilers  or  deckmen.  The  prevailing  wages,  in 
California,  are : 

Dredgemasters,  from  $125  to  $200  per  mouth. 

Winchmen,  $3  to  $1  per  shift  of  eight  hours. 

Oilers  or  deckmen,  $2.50  or  $3  per  shift  of  eight  hours. 

Shoremen  or  outside  labor,  from  $2  to  $2.75  per  nine-hour  shift. 

Chinese,  $1.50  to  $1.75  per  nine-hour  shift. 
Where  there  are  a  number  of  dredges  a  clean-up  man,  with  one  or 
more  assistants,  is  employed  in  addition  to  the  regular  dredge  crew; 
under  his  direction  the  gold  on  the  tables  of  each  dredge  is  removed  at 
regular  intervals,  usually  once  a  week.  The  clean-up  man  usually  has 
charge  of  the  retorting  of  the  amalgam  and  the  melting  of  the  gold  also, 
and  because  of  this  last  duty  is  often  known  as  the  company 's  gold  man. 
The  cost  of  a  complete  California  type  dredge  varies  considerably 
and  is  governed  by  the  depth  to  be  dredged  below  water  line  and  the 
character  of  material  to  be  handled.  The  following  figures  give  a 
general  idea  of  the  cost  of  different  size  dredges  installed  complete  and 
ready  for  operation:  3  and  31/0  cubic  feet,  from  $50,000  to  $60,000; 
5  and  51/2  cubic  feet,  from  $50,000  to  $90,000 ;  7  and  71/0  cubic  feet,  from 
$80,000  to  $120,000;  8  and  81/2  cubic  feet,  from  $120,000  to  $175,000; 
9  and  9i4  cubic  feet,  from  $130"000  to  $200,000;  12  and  13i/o  cubic  feet, 
from  $17*5,000  to  $225,000. 

Several  placer  mining  dipper  dredges,  ranging  in  sizes  of  from  II/4 
to  21/^-yard  bucket  capacity,  have  ])een  operated  in  the  Oroville  district 
at  various  times. 
Among  these,  the 
"Plutus,"  of  13^- 
y  a  r  d  capacity, 
owned  by  John  W. 
Ferris,  was  one  of 
the  first  dredges  in 
the  district. 

The  washing  ma- 
chinery, gold-SaV-  No.  72.  Old  type  clipper  dredge,  equipped  with  double  hoppers, 
incr  fnhlAc  ofr>  screens  and  stackers.  Dredge  of  the  Yreka  Creek  Gold 
lUe.     lauies,     eiC,                  Dredging  and   Mining   Company.      Moved  to  Alaska. 


6 GD 


82 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


DREDGE   CONSTRUCTION   AND   OPERATION. 


13 


Avere  installed  on  the  same  hull  with  the  dredge  niaehiiiery.  which  was 
plaeed  a  little  to  one  side  of  the  center  of  the  boat,  in  order  to  admit 
of  the   washing  machinery   and 
gold-saving      apparatus      being 
placed  on  the  opposite  side. 

The  hull  was  46  feet  wide.  55 
feet  long,  and  6  feet  6  inches 
deep.  The  boom  was  40  feet 
long,  and  the  dredge  was  capal)le 
of  digging  22  feet  below  the 
water-line  and  dumping  18  feet 
above  the  surface  of  the  water. 
This  dredge  was  finally  dis- 
mantled, as  the  ground  was 
merged  with  that  of  other  com- 
panies. 

An  electrically  driven  ly^- 
yard  l)Urket  capacity  dipper 
dredge  was  installed  on  the  Oro- 
ville  Gold  Dredging  Company's 
ground,  and  the  dredge  Avas 
capable  of  digging  23  feet  below 
the  surface  of  the  water.  The 
size  of  the  hull  was  40  feet  wide. 
80  feet  long,  and  7  feet  deep, 
having  a  40-foot  boom. 

This  dredge  was  e(|uipped 
with  a  perforated  shalving 
screen,  about  6  feet  wide  and  18 
feet  long,  placed  in  front  at  the 
side  of  the  dredge,  Avith  sluicing 
tables  running  from  beneath 
the  screen  to  a  main  sluice  l)ox, 
Avhich  carried  the  screenings  aft. 
A  belt  couA-eyor  Avas  arranged 
to  car-ry  tlie  coarse  material 
from  the  lower  end  of  the  screen 
to  a  central  hopper  placed  at 
the  foot  of  an  SO-foot  swinging 
stacker  or  tailing  elevatoi-  ar- 
ranged on  the  rear  of  the  boat.  The  stacker  could  be  swung  from  one 
side  to  llu'  otlicr  in  an  arc  of  about  140  degrees  to  deposit  the  tailing  at 
various  points  at  the  rear  of  the  dredge.  The  dredge  had  a  capacity  of 
about  1.800  yards  in  twenty-four  hours  Avilh  one  sliaking-screen,  Avhich 


84  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

could  have  been  increased,  as  the  framework  in  front  of  the  boat  was 
so  arranged  that  another  shaking-screen  could  have  been  added  on  the 
opposite  side. 

A  somewhat  similar  dredge  of  li/4-yard  bucket  capacity,  electrically 
driven,  was  installed  on  Wyman's  Ravine,  near  Oroville,  for  the  Garden 
Ranch  Gold  Dredging  Company.  The  boom  on  this  dredge  was  30  feet 
long.  This  dredge  also  had  a  perforated  shaking-screen  6  feet  wide  and 
about  20  feet  long,  placed  on  one  side  of  the  boat  with  gold-saving  tables 
thereunder,  emptying  into  a  main  sluice  on  board  the  dredge,  which  car- 
ried the  tailing  to  the  rear  of  the  boat.  On  account  of  the  rather  shal- 
low ground,  about  18  feet  deep,  a  single  belt  conveyor  about  80  feet  long 
arranged  at  the  side,  was  ample  to  take  care  of  the  tailings.  This 
dredge  with  only  one  screen  showed  a  capacity  of  from  30,000  to  40,000 
cubic  yards  per  month,  which  might  possibly  have  been  increased  33 V^ 
per  cent  by  having  another  screen  installed  on  the  opposite  side. 

The  total  cost  of  the  dredge  turned  over  ready  for  operation  f.  o.  b. 
railroad  at  Marion,  Ohio,  was  approximately  $25,000. 

The  builders  and  some  operators  claim  that  with  the  following  condi- 
tions there  is  a  field  for  the  dipper  type  of  dredge : 

First — Where  the  ground  is  somewhat  shallow. 

Second — Where  the  extent  of  ground  is  not  sufficient  to  warrant  a 
costly  dredge. 

Third — Where  the  material  is  of  a  somewhat  rough  character,  bould- 
ers, stumps,  etc. 

Fourth — Where  the  ground  is  mixed  with  more  or  less  clay,  as  the 
dipper  will  relieve  itself,  notwithstanding  the  adhesiveness  of  the  clay. 

The  Marion  Steam  Shovel  Company  build  these  dipper  type  of  placer 
mining  dredges  in  the  li/4,  li/o,  and  2i/2-yard  sizes,  either  steam  or 
electrically  driven,  and  arranged  with  a  central  screen  or  washing 
apparatus  a  little  to  the  rear  of  the  center  of  the  boat  with  gold-saving 
tables  on  either  side,  on  practically  the  same  lines  as  now  used  on  the 
elevator  type  of  dredge,  requiring  only  one  screen  and  one  stacker  to 
take  the  full  capacity  of  the  digging  end  of  the  dredge. 

The  crew  required  to  operate  a  dipper  dredge  running  three  shifts 
consists  of  one  dredgemaster,  three  levermen,  three  cranemen,  three 
oilers,  and  one  laborer. 


WORKING  COSTS. 


85 


IV.    WORKING  COSTS. 

Different  dredging  companies  have  various  methods  of  segregating 
costs  and  there  is  often  considerable  variation  in  the  methods  employed. 
In  compiling  the  records  for  this  book  the  endeavor  has  been  to  arrive 
at  the  total  cost  within  some  degree  of  accurac3^  Working  costs,  in  gen- 
eral, depend  a  great  deal  on  methods  of  bookkeeping  and  can  not  be  used 
in  comparison  unless  a  uniform  system  is  employed.  Ground  even  in 
the  same  locality  often  varies  to  such  an  extent  that  different  dredges 


No.   75.     Placer  dredge  operating  on  Australian   River. 

of  the  same  make  and  bucket  capacity  and  operating  under  the  same 
management  show  entirely  different  working  costs.  The  dift'erence  in 
cost  per  cubic  yard  where  one  dredge  only  or  where  several  dredges  are 
operating  under  one  management  is  not  great,  working  conditions  being 
the  same  and  the  management  capable  and  economical  in  both  instances. 
It  is  apparent  that  should  too  large  a  yardage  be  reported  as  having 
been  dredged  at  a  certain  total  cost,  that  the  cost  per  cubic  yard  figured 
from  these  results  would  be  too  low.  Where  dredges  are  operating  in 
swift  running  streams  as  in  New  Zealand,  and  elsewhere,  the  measure- 
ment of  yardage  with  any  degree  of  accuracy  is  practically  impossible. 
In  such  cases  the  yardage  is  usually  computed  by  counting  the  buckets 
dumped  per  minute,  some  allowance  being  mndc  for  buckets  only  partly 
filled.     Whou  dredges  ai'c  owned  and  operated  by  indixiduals  llie  ])rac- 


S6 


GOLD  DKKDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


tite  of  keeping  exhaustive  records,  both  as  to  yardage  handled  and 
segregated  items  of  "working  costs,  is  not  generall}^  followed. 

In  California  all  dredging  companies  arrive  at  the  yardage  luiiidled 


No.  75.     Monitors  at  work  on  cemented  gravel  bank.     California  type  dredge. 

by  measuring  the  gravel  bank  ahead  of  the  dredge.  Careful  daily 
records  are  in  most  instances  kept  of  all  costs. 

While  high  yardage  and  low  working  costs  are  desirable,  it  is  not  the 
aim  of  the  California  dredge  operator  to  make  records  at  the  expense 
of  good  work,  but  to  strive  for  the  best  economic  results,  and  it  is  with 
this  end  in  view  that  the  California  type  of  dredge  has  been  developed. 

For  many  years  small  and  light  dredges,  equipped  with  open  con- 


WORKING  COSTS. 


87 


nected  buckets,  head  lines  and  short  tray  tailing  stackers  were  used  in 
California  with  varying  success,  but  as  the  loose  shallow  ground  was 
worked  out  and  the  gravel  became  deep  and  at  times  cemented,  the  large 
California  type  of  dredge  equipped  with  heavy  machinerj',  spuds,  and 

licit  tailing  conveyor  proved  its  superiority. 


No.  77.     Showing  ladder  and  bucket  line  on   5-cubic-foot  dredge,   Oroville,   Cal. 


3-CUBIC-FOOT    CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET    ELEVATOR    DREDGE. 
Remodeled   from   opt'ii-connerted.      Five   years  and   nine   months   in   commission. 

New  Zealand  type. 
Summary  of  workhifj  costs  for  the  last  twelve  months   in  operation. 
Actual  dredffins   time.   7.21<i   hours  40  miuutes:    average  dredgiuj;:   time  daily.    10 
hours  43   minutes;   cubic  yards   excavated.   4r»S,S82 ;    average  yardage   daily,   1,2.j4  ; 
acres  dredged.  10.57 ;  average  depth  of  ground.  20.0  feet. 

Cost  per'  p      p 

;i:""'i     c-i''*?  of  Tof"/ 

Cost.s.         1  ard  in 
Cents. 


Operating,  material  and  labor. 

Electricity   : 

R(>IKiirs  

General  e.xjienso 

Ta.N<'s   and   insurance 


ai7(l  19 

1.5,071  92 

2.918  2.5 

1.685  88 


'I'otal   e.xi.ense  I  $32.166  84 


2.03 
.69 

3.28 
.63 
.37 


7.00 


Cost. 


28.9 
9.9 

46.9 
9.1 
5.2 


100. 


This  dredge  was  working   under  very   favorable  conditions  in  rich 

groiiiul. 


88 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


3-CUBIC-FOOT    CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET    ELEVATOR    DREDGE. 

Remodeled  from  open-connected.     New  Zealand  type. 
Workirig  costs  for  the  last  twelve  months  the  dredge  was  in  operation. 
Actual  dredging  time,   2,809  hours  30  minutes ;   average  dredging  time  daily,  16 
hours  3  minutes ;  cubic  yards  excavated,  173,665 ;  average  yardage  daily,  992  ;  acres 
dredged,  3.97 ;  average  depth  of  ground,  27.1  feet. 


Operating,  material  and  labor. 

Electricity  

Water 

Repairs 

General  expense  

Taxes  and  insurance 


Total  expense 


$4,816  69 
1.565  40 

240  00 
7,199  63 
1,358  43 

845  26 


2.77 
.90 
.14 

4.15 
.78 
.49 


30.1 
9.8 
1.4 

44.9 
8.5 
5.3 


$16,025  41 


9.23 


100. 


Gross  returns  per  cubic  yard,  7.66  cents  ;  loss.  1.57  cents. 
This  dredge  was  working  on  a  headline  in  difficult  ground  where  now 
a  new  7-eubic-foot  spud  dredge  is  working  at  a  profit. 

3J^-CUBIC-FOOT    CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET    ELEVATOR    DREDGE. 

Six  and  one  half  years  in  commission.     California  type. 
Working  costs  for  the  last  twelve  months  in  operation. 
Actual  dredging  time,  305  days  21  hours ;  average  dredging  time  daily,  20  hours 
30  minutes ;   cubic  yards  excavated,   461,882 ;   average   yardage   daily,   1,510 ;   acres 
dredged,  7.4.  average  depth  of  ground,  34  feet. 

Cost  per 
I    Cubic 
Yard  in 

I    Cents. 


Operating,  labor 2.853 

Power,  electric 1.487 

Water :  .195 

Repairs,  material  and  labor 1.717 

General  expenses,  taxes,  insurance,  smelting  and  express ;  1.077 

Total  expenses  7.329 


Gross  output,  $73,475.91;   net  output,  .$39,628.37. 

Operating  under  difficult  conditions,  owing  to  location  of  land,  which 
is  subject  to  overflow  during  high  water.  The  gravel  is  a  fairly  compact 
clean  river  wash. 


S'/^-CUBiaFOOT  CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET  ELEVATOR  DREDGE. 

California  type. 

Working  costs  during  the  first  seven  years  in  operation. 


1st 
Year. 

2d 
Year. 

3d 
Year 

4th 
Year. 

5th 
Year. 

6th 
Year. 

'      7th 
Year. 

Labor    .    ,       _    .  _ 

2.913 

1.886 

3.133 
1.960 
0.180 
3.383 
0.658 

3.975 
2.467 
0.255 
2.624 
0.797 

2.687 
1.542 
0.194 
2.515 
0.672 

3.011 
1.446 
0.211 
2.395 
1.354 

2.853 
1.487 
0.195 
1.717 
1.077 

2.838 

Power    - 

1.535 

Water    .    .. 

0.228 

Repairs  and  supplies 

General  expenses           .. 

2.415 
0.745 

1.743 
1.323 

Total  costs,  in  cents 

Cubic   yards   handled 

7.959 
485,016 

9.314 
466,262 

10.118 
352,826 

7.610 
465,207 

8.417 
425,843 

7.329 
461.882 

7.667 
395.316 

WORKING  COSTS. 


89 


In  the  above  costs  are  included  the  operating  expenses,  total  cost  of 
repairs  necessary  to  keep  the  dredge  in  the  best  working  condition,  also 
the  cost  of  all  extraordinary  breakages  and  accidents. 

The  dredge  was  digging  to  an  average  depth  of  about  35  feet  in  fairly 
compact  clean  gravel,  carrying  little  clay  and  few  large  boulders.  The 
ground  is  subject  to  overflow  during  high  water,  thus  increasing  the 
working  costs  during  the  winter  months. 

4-CUBIC-FOOT    CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET    ELEVATOR    DREDGE. 

Nine  years  in  commission.     Early  Montana  type  remodeled  to  California  type. 

Working  costs  for  the  last  twelve  months  in  operation. 
Actual   dredging   time,    7,057   hours ;    average   dredging   time   daily,    19   hours   20 
minutes ;  cubic  yards  excavated,  484,387  ;  average  yardage  daily,  1,327 ;  acres  dredged, 
14.60;  average  depth  of  ground,  20.6  feet. 


Total 
Cost. 


Cost  per 
Cubic 

Yard  in 
Cents. 


Percent 

of  Total 

Cost. 


Operating,  material  and  labor 

Electricity  

Water 

Repairs 

General  expense  

Taxes  and  insurance 


$8,832  08 
4,330  04 
1,500  00 

12,498  00 
3,173  96 
1,266  85 


1.83 
.89 
.31 

2.58 
.65 
.26 


27.9 
13.7 

4.8 
39.5 
10.0 

4.1 


$31,600  93 


6.52 


100. 


Digging  on  low  land  subject  to  overflow  in  flood  times.  The  gravel  is 
mostly  a  clean  river  wash,  in  places  very  shallow.  The  character  of  the 
bedrock  is  a  soft  tufa  with  uneven  contours.  This  dredge  was  remodeled 
from  a  doul)le-lift  to  a  single-lift. 


S-CUBIC-FOOT  CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET  ELEVATOR  DREDGE. 

Four  and  one  half  years  in  commission.     California  type. 
Working  costs  for  the  last  tivelve  months  in  operation. 
Actual  dredging  time,  (5,507%  hours ;  acres  dredged,  13.96 ;  cubic  yards  excavated. 
812.355  ;  average  depth  of  ground,  36.06  feet. 


Lubic    I  of  Total 


Yard  in 
Cents. 


Cost. 


Operating,*  material  and  labor _.- 2.301  34.568 

Power,  electric 1.081  16.231 

Repairs,  material  and  labor 2.923  43.890 

Taxes   and  insurance 0.354  5.311 


6.659       100. 


*  Under  "Operating"  is  included  all  expenses  for  salaries,  bullion,  general  expenses, 
labor  and  supplies,  and  vi'ater. 

Digging  in  average  ground,  carrying  considerable  clay.  The  surface 
of  the  ground  is  covered  by  a  thick  growth  of  small  timber  which  must 
be  cleared  l)efore  dredsins:. 


IM)  GOLD   DREDGING    IN    CALIKORXIA. 

5-CUBIC-FOOT   CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET   ELEVATOR   DREDGE. 

Throe  j'ears  ;ind   li\'o   nionllis   in   commission.      Califoi-ni;i   type. 
Snminarn  of  loorkiny  costs   for  the   last  twelve  months   in   operation. 
Actual   dredgiug  time,  G,79S  hours  45  minutes ;   average  dredging  time  daily.   18 
hours  35  minutes ;  cubic  yards  excavated,  1,148,480 ;  average  yardage  daily,  3,138 ; 
acres  dredged,  27.91 ;  average  depth  of  ground,  25.5  feet. 


Total 
cost.s. 


Operating,  material  and  labor $10,066  19 

Electricity  6,031  50 

Water 603  34 

Repairs 20,271  98 

General  expense 2,913  26 

Taxes  and  instirance 3,766  93 

Total  expense  $43,653  20 


3.J 


100. 


This  dredge  is  working  in  loose  gravel  with  a  heavy  overburden  of 
sandv  loam. 


5-CUBIC-FOOT   CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET   ELEVATOR   DREDGE. 

Two  years  and  five  months  in  commission.     California  type. 

Working  costs  for  the  last  twelve  months  in  operation. 

Actual  dredging   time,  6,790  hours  35  minutes :   average   dredging  time  daily.   IS 

hours  30  minutes ;  cubic  yards  excavated,  1,148,802  ;  average  yardage  daily,  3,148 ; 

acres  dredged,  23.87 ;  average  depth  of  ground,  29.9  feet. 


Cost  per 
Total        I     Cubic 
Costs.         Yard  in 
Cents. 


Per  Cent 

of  Total 

Cost. 


Operating,  material  and  labor 

Electricity  

Water 

Repairs 

General  expense  

Taxes  and  insurance 


$9,475  59 

5,607  00 

300  00 

21,719  28 
2,865  88 
1,820  10 


$41,787  85 


.82 
.49 
.03 
1.89 
.25 
.16 


3.64 


22.7 

13.4 

0.7 

52.0 

6.9 

4.3 


100. 


No.  78.     Ground  to  be  dredged,  partly  cleared  of  brush  and  trees.     Oroville  District. 


WORKING  COSTS. 


91 


This  dredge  was  digging'  in  loose  gravel  with  a  heavy  overburden  of 
light  soil.  The  heavy  cost  of  maintenance  is  due  mostly  to  the  installing 
of  a  new  upi)er  tumbler,  a  complete  line  of  bucket  bottoms,  and  a  new 
stacker  belt. 


5-CUBIC-FOOT   CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET  ELEVATOR  DREDGE. 

Four  Ncais  and  seven  months  in  commission.      California  type. 

^^'ol•kill(J  costs  for  the  last  twelve  months  in  operation. 

Actual   drodgin.!!   time.  (j.(j44   hours  '20  minutes;   averase  dredsinu    tiiiif   daily.   IS 

hours   12  minutes:   cubic  yards  excavated,   599,014;  average  yardage  daily,   1,643; 

acres  dredged.  9.(;t! :  average  depth  of  ground.  8S.5  feet. 


Yard'in    -'''^^'-' 
Cents. 


Operating,  material  and  labor $10,599  83 

Electricity 5.490  00 

Water 1..500  00 

Repairs 24,127  04 

General  expense 2.836  61 

Taxes  and  insurance 1,402  75 

Total  expense  $45,956  83 


Working  under  great  difficulties  against  a  20-foot  bank  and  rising 
bedrock.  It  was  necessary  to  cut  through  the  bedrock,  which  rose  above 
the  water  level  to  a  sufficient  depth  to  enable  the  dredge  to  maintain  its 
course. 

Heavy  repair  cost,  due  to  installing  of  new  tuinl)ler.  conveyor  l)elt, 
repairs  to  digging  ladder,  and  replacing  of  screen,  etc..  accounts  for 
.'')2.2  per  cent  of  the  total  working  cost. 


r^' 


Yuba   Consolidated   Gold   Fields'   dredges,   each  of  6-cubic-foot   capacity. 
California    type    dredges. 


r»2 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


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IH  GOF.D  DREDCING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

6-CUBIC-FOOT   CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET   ELEVATOR   DREDGE. 

Four  years  in  commission. 

Snmmari/  of   ivorkiiiy  costs  for  the  last  tioelve  months   in   opcrdtUm. 

Working  days  in  year 3g3 

Working  hours  in  year 8.712 

Possible  working  hours   8,60U 

Total  hours  machine  was  digging  during  year 5,730  5-6 

Power  was  off,  hours Hqj 

Percentage  of  total  hours  digging 65.42 

Percentage  of  possible  hours  digging 66.62 

Surface  area  worked  out,  acres 11.956 

Average  depth  of  cut,  feet 25.12 

Cubic  yards  handled  541,744 

Cubic  yards  handled  per  day 1,492 

Cubic  yards  handled  per  digging  hour 94.52 

Gross  value  extracted $61,646  37 

Gross  A^alue  extracted  per  day $169.82 

Gross  value  extracted  per  digging  hour 10.75 

Gross  value  extracted  per  yard  dug .11380 

Division   of  costs. 

Co.^t  per 
Cubic  Yard      Total 
Dug. 

Labor  $0.02430 

Power    .01328 

Supplies  .00703 

Shop  repairs  and  parts .010.55 

Freight  .00118 

General  expenses  and  boarding  house,  loss .00130 

Land  clearing .00045 


Expense. 

$13,163  68 

7.196  61 

3,810  47 

5.718  09 

638  57 

706  30 

244  10 

$31,477  82 

Total  cost  at  dredge $0.05809 

Profit  over  and  above  cost  at  dredge $0.05571  $30,168  55 

Other  costs — Administration,  taxes,  insurance,   etc. 

San  Francisco  office,  management  and  traveling  expenses $0,007.59      $4,116  15 

Treasurer's  office  expenses .00041          225  00 

Taxes  .00180          922  67 

Insurance .00086          521  63 


Total   administration   .$0.01066      $5,785  45 

Add  costs  at  dredge  as  above .05809      31,477  82 


Total  costs  all  included $0.06875    $37,263  27 


95 


No.   79.      Yearly  record  sheet,   used   by  some    California   dredging 


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GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


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97 


7-CUBIC-FOOT  CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET  ELEVATOR  DREDGE. 

Three  years  and  nine  months  in  commission.     California  type. 
Summary  of  ivorking  costs  for  the  last  twelve  ynonths  in  operation. 
Actual  dredging  time.   6,390  hours  20  minutes ;   average  dredging  time  daily,  17 
hours  28  minutes :  cubic  yards  excavated,  1,033,694 ;  average  yardage  daily,  2,824  ; 
acres  dredged.  24.23  :  average  depth  of  ground,  26..5  feet. 


Total 
Costs. 


Cost  per  pp. 
Cubic  ^^"^  ^^^^ 
Yard 


of  Total 


in  Cents 


Cost. 


Operating,  material  and  labor '  .$11,155  55 

Electricity  6,640  80 

Water 1.500  00 

Repairs 27,786  14 

General  expense 3,483  78 

Taxes   and   insurance 2,(127  66 


1.08 

21.2 

.64 

12.6 

.14 

2.9 

2.69 

52.8 

.34 

6.6 

.20 

3.9 

Total  expense  .$52,593  93 


5.09 


100. 


Gross  returns  per  cubic  yard.  11.02  cents ;  net  returns  per  cubic  yard,  5.93  cents. 

This  dredge  is  working  in  heavy  compact  gravel.  The  replacing  of 
the  upper  and  lower  tuml)ler  shafts,  new  revolving  screen,  and  conveyor 
belt  accounts  for  the  loss  in  working  time  and  heavy  repair  costs. 


7-CUBIC-FOOT  CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET  ELEVATOR  DREDGE. 

One  year  and  three  months  in  commission.      California  type. 

Woi'king  costs  for  the  last  twelve  months  in  operation. 

Actual   dredging  time.  6,313  hours  35  minutes ;   average  dredging  time  daily,  17 

hours  IS  minutes :  cubic  yards  excavated.  1,114.605  ;  average  yardage  daily,  3,054 ; 

acres  dredged,  25.05 :   average  depth  of  ground,  27.6  feet. 

""cS'lP^Cent 
Yard     !  of  Total 
in  Cents. 


Cost. 


Operating,  material  and  labor $13,467  22  1.21  29.7 

Electricity  I      6,954  27  .62  15.3 

Water 315  00  .03  0.7 

Repairs 20,192  95  1.81  44.5 

General  expense  3,173  96  .29  !  7. 


Taxes  and  insurance. 


1,266  85 


.11 


Total  expense  $45,370  25 


4.07 


2.8 


100. 


Gross  returns  per  cubic  yard,  9.76  cents ;  net  revenue  per  cubic  yard,  5.69  cents. 
Digging  in  compact  gravel. 


/ — GO 


98 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


7-CUBIC-FOOT  CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET  ELEVATOR  DREDGE. 

Two  years  and   nine   months   in   commission.      California  type. 
Working  costs  for  the  last  twelve  months  in  operation. 

Actual  dredging  time,  6,917  hours  25  minutes ;  average  dredging  time  daily.  18 
hours  57  minutes ;  cubic  yards  excavated,  1,017.167 ;  average  yardage  daily,  2,7S7 ; 
acres  dredged,  22.43 ;  average  depth  of  ground,  28.1  feet. 


Total 
Costs. 


Operating,  material  and  labor $11,188  09 

Electricity  6,603  98 

Water  1.500  00 

Repairs  22.330  72 

General  expense  2,836  67 

Taxes  and  insurance 1.402  74 


Cost  per  ;  p     f,     t 
in  Cents. 


Cost. 


1.10  i 

24.4 

.65 

14.4 

.15 

3.3 

2.19 

48.7 

.28 

6.2 

.14 

3.0 

Total  expense  j  $45,862  20 


4.51 


100. 


Gross  returns  per  cubic  yard,  19.11  cents ;  net  returns  per  cubic  yard,  14.60  cents. 

Working  under  difficulties  in  heavy,  compact  ground.  In  the  cost  of 
repairs  is  included  the  cost  of  a  new  steel  spud  and  a  new  revolving 
screen.    The  time  lost  is  due  to  the  breaking  of  the  steel  spud. 


7-CUBIC-FOOT  CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET  ELEVATOR  DREDGE. 

Nine  months  and  ten  daj's  in  commission.     California  type. 
Actual  dredging  time.  5,088  hours  25  minutes :   average  dredging  time  daily.   17 
hours  52  minutes;   cubic  yards  excavated,  838,885;   average   yardage   daily,   2,943; 
acres  dredged,  14.66 ;  average  depth  of  ground,  85.5  feet. 


Total 
Costs. 


Cost  per    pproent 
Cubic      i^ercent 

Yard 
in  Cents. 


of  Total 
Cost. 


Operating,  labor  and  material 1    $9,980  60  1.19 

Electric   power   5,805  00  .69 

Water 


Repairs 10,200  97  1.22 

General  expense :      2,217  73  .26 

Taxes  and  insurance 1.421  19  .17 


Total  expense  $29,625  49 


33.7 
19.6 


34.4 
7.5 

4.8 


3.53 


100. 


Gross  returns  per  cubic  yard,  6.86  cents ;  net  returns  per  cubic  yard,  2.83  cents. 

Digging  in  heavj',  difficult  ground ;  gravel  coarse,  compact  and  partly 
cemented.  This  dredge  replaced  an  open-connected-bucket  dredge, 
which  was  working  on  this  property  and  could  not  handle  the  ground 
to  a  profit. 


WORKING  COSTS. 


99 


75^-CUBIC-FOOT  CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET  ELEVATOR  DREDGE. 

Nine  months  and   six   days   in   commission.      California  type. 
Summary  of  working  costs. 

Actual  dredging  time,  5,582  hours  15  minutes ;  average  dredging  time  daily,  19 
hours  52  minutes;  cubic  yards  excavated,  944,879;  average  yardage  daily,  3.363; 
acres  dredged,  20.425 ;  average  depth  of  ground,  28.7  feet. 


Total 
Ccsts. 


Cost  per 

Cubic 

Yard 

in  Cents. 


Percent 

of  Total 

Cost 


Operating,  labor  and  material $8,939  64 

Electricity   5,440  80 

Repairs  12,308  73 

General  expense 2,559  67 

Taxes  and  insurance 3,683  84 

Bullion  expenses  569  39 


.95 
.58 
1.30 
.27 
.39 
.06 


Total  expense  $33,502  07 


3.55 


26.7 
16.3 
36.7 

7.6 
11.0 

1.7 


100. 


Gross  returns  per  cubic  yard,  14.99  cents ;  net  returns  per  cubic  yard,  11.44  cents. 

This  dredge  is  working  in  fairly  compact  gravel  with  a  heavy  over- 
burden. 


71/^-CUBIC-FOOT  CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET  ELEVATOR  DREDGE. 

California  type. 

Summary  of  operations   for  two  years   eleven  months  and  twelve  days. 

Actual  dredging  time,  18,464  hours  55  minutes ;  acres  dredged,  54.649  ;  cubic  yards 
excavated,  3,458,229 ;  average  depth  of  ground,  27.9  feet. 


Total 
Costs. 


Co.st  per 
Cubic 

Yard  in 
Cents. 


Operating,  labor  and  material $24,899  24 

Electricity  14,045  34 

Water    


Eepairs  1  51,859  55 

General  expense  8,333  30 

Taxes  and  insurance j  8,542  77 

Bullion  expenses  941  19 


Total  expense  $108,621  39 


4.42 


Gross  returns  per  cubic  yard,  9.30  cents ;  net  returns  per  cubic  yard.  4.88  cents. 

These  costs  include  depreciation  and  all  fixed  charges.     The  dredge 
is  M^orking  in  average  bench  gravel. 


100 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


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101 


7I/I-CUBIC-FOOT  CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET  ELEVATOR  DREDGE. 
Two  and  one  half  years  in  commission.     California  type. 
Sumtnary  of  working  costs  for  the  last  twelve  months  in  operation. 
Actual  dredging  time,  6,900  hour.s  50  minutes ;  cubic  yards  excavated,  1,281,351 ; 
average  depth  of  ground,  67.8  feet. 


Operating,  labor 

Electricity    

Water 


Repairs,  labor  and  material 25,730  67 

General  expense  5,856  56 


Total  expense   '  $58,056  50 


4..53 


These  costs  include  depreciation  and  all  fixed  charges.     This  dredge 
is  working  in  medium  light  gravel  overlain  by  hydraulic  tailing. 


7'/4-CUBIC-FOOT  CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET  ELEVATOR  DREDGE. 
Two  and  one  half  years  in  commission.     California  type. 
Summary  of  working  costs  for  the  last  twelve  months  in  operation. 
Actual  dredging  time,  6,402  hours  35  minutes ;  cubic  yards  excavated,  1.369,844 ; 
average  depth  of  ground,  70.2  feet. 


Total 
Costs. 


Cost  per 

Cubic  Yard 

in  Cents. 


Operating,   labor   $13,375  88  I 

Electricity    10,596  44  ' 

Water  


Repairs,  labor  and  material 26.522  49 

General  expense  6,357  08 


Total  expense  ■  $56,851  89 


4.15 


These  costs  include  depreciation  and  all  fixed  charge.s.     This  dredge 
is  working  in  medium  light  gravel  overlain  by  hydraulic  tailing. 


8-CUBIC-FOOT  CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET  ELEVATOR  DREDGE. 
Four  months  and  eight  days  in  commi.ssion.      California   typi-. 
Working  costs. 
Days  operating,  130;   actual  dredging  time,  2,369  hours  5  minutes:  cubic  yards 
excavated,  626,264 ;  average  depth  of  ground,  24  feet ;  acres  dredged,  16.38. 

I  Cost  per 

Total       '    Ciil>ic 
Costs.  Yard  in 

I    Cents. 


Operating,  labor  and  material. 

Electricity  — 

Water    

Repairs  

General  expense  

Taxes  and  insurance 

Bullion  expenses 


Total  expense  $15,455  86 


$6,846  02 
3,326  00 


2,524  44 

1,241  38 

1.237  18 

280  84 


2.47 


Gross  returns  per  cubic  yard,  11.72  cents ;  net  returns  per  cubic  yard.  9.25  cents. 


102 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


These  costs  include  depreciation  and  all  fixed  charges, 
is  digging  average  bench  gravel. 


The  dredge 


8-CUBIC-FOOT  CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET  ELEVATOR  DREDGE. 
Six  months  in  commission.     California  type. 
Summary  of  working  costs. 
Days  operating,  171 ;   actual  dredging  time,  3,162  hours  5  minutes ;   cubic  yards 
excavated,  583,927;   acres  dredged,  8^/^  ;   average  depth  of  ground,  42.5  feet. 


Total 
Costs. 


Cost  per 
Cubic 

Yard  in 
Cents. 


Operating,  labor  and  material. 

Electricity  

Eepairs  

General  expense  

Taxes  and  insurance 

Bullion  expenses  


$9,879  13 
3,470  40 
6,343  22 
1,665  14 
1,383  91 
302  58 


Total  expense 


$23,044  38 


3.95 


Gross  returns  per  cubic  yard,  12.67  cents ;  net  returns  per  cubic  yard,  8.72  cents. 

These  costs  include  depreciation  and  all  fixed  charges.  The  dredge 
is  operating  in  light  gravel  and  against  a  bank  about  10  feet  above  the 
water  line. 

9-CUBIC-FOOT  CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET  ELEVATOR  DREDGE. 

California  type. 
Workijig  costs  for  the  first  five  months  in  operation. 

Cubic  yards  excavated 580,310 

Cubic  yards  per  month  116,062 

Average  depth  of  ground,  feet 51 

Total  cost  $29,009.18 

Cost  per  cubic  yards  in  cents 4.98 

These  costs  include  all  fixed  charges.     This  dredge  is  digging  under 

most  difficult  conditions  in  cemented  gravel  and  against  a  bank  20  feet 

above  the  water  level. 


13^-CUBIC-FOOT  CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET  ELEVATOR  DREDGE. 

Nearly  eight  months  in  commission.     California  type. 
Working  costs. 
Days  operating,  235 ;  actual  dredging  time,  4,478  hours  20  minutes ;  cubic  yards 
excavated,  1,830,201 ;  acres  dredged,  60.02 ;  average  depth  of  ground,  19  feet. 


Total 
Costs. 


Cost  per 
Cubic 

Yard  in 
Cents. 


Operating,  Tabor  and  material. 
Electricity  

Water 


$18,690  91 
8,618  70 


Repairs  10,246  87 

General  expense 2,114  02 

Taxes  and  insurance 1,759  25 

Bullion  expenses  736  09 


Total  expense  j  $42,165  84 


2.3 


These  costs  include  all  operating  costs,  depreciation,  insurances,  tax, 
and  all  fixed  charges.    This  machine  is  digging  in  fine  gravel  wash. 


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TABLE   SHOWING   WORKING  COSTS  OF  CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET  ELEVATOR   DREDGES  OPERATING   IN  CALIFORNIA. 


Bucketa.      Fig\ir 


•Working 

Period  for 

PigarcB  Given. 


;  Month.     Year.     Month.     Ho 


1  L. 


■nine  Dred^ng. 


Hours.    Hin. 


6,780  I 
6,607 
6,513 
19.463 
6.015 


8,582 

16  ! 

13,464 

55 

6,402 

36  - 

6,651 

65 

7,048 

10 

6.849 

05 

Depth  of  Ground 


TBge.    Min.    Max. 


23.87 
13.96 
11.86 
43.M 
16.75 

27.91 
12.05 
25.0,'i 
24.23 


28.95 
24.75 
51.88 
25.19 
43.17 
15.80 
18.83 


18  I      33  I         77.43  I 


islon  for  figHr«B  uivi 


23.44 
39.47 
24.73 
.52.51 
51.25 
26.2 


I 


Qround  Worked. 


Cubic         Cubic 
YardB.         Yards. 


1,148,802  I 
812,356 
692,078 

2,089,163  !. 


1.114.60.-1 
1,033.694 
1,194.146 


2,468,229 
1,369,844 
1,257,055 
1,177.772 
1,962,448 
1,604,369 
1,722,281 
1,339,464 
l,666,6il8 
170,830 


231,375 
236,633 
274,318 


195,403 
231,885 
292,067 


266,758 
239,768 
257,996 
218,189 


3,148 

iiois' 

1,872" 

3,138 
2,122 
3.054 


4,791 
3.710 
4,361 


Labor  and  Material. 


2.07 
2.20 

2.64 

2.81 

3.31 

2.49 

1.97 

2.66 

2.45 

2.65 

1.60 

2.33 

8,397 

2.41 

RUNNlKti   EXPRNSES. 

Mftteritil  Only. 


Electric  Pone 


Labor  and  Material.  Material  Only. 


ieneral  Ezttenses.       Taxes  and  Ins) 


''Sf.'bS?'  I    Percent       %t  per 


Smeltine  and  Expreu 


Operating  in  very  favorable  ground. 
Operating  in  average  fair  ground. 
'  Operating  in  average  fair  groand. 

3peratin|, 
partly  stopped  for  r 

Digging  under  favorable  conditions. 

Digging  in  very  difficult  ground. 

Compact  gravel. 

Difficult  ground  ;  heavy  replacement  chai^es- 

Average  fair  ground;  dredge  partly  shut  down 
in    Kebruarv,  Anguat,  Seplenilier,  October, 
and  Novemoer, 
ii  Average  fair  ground;  dredge  partly  shutdown 
11      in  August,  September,  and  October. 

Average  digging  ground. 
I  Average  digging  ground. 

Average  digging  ground. 
;  Average  digging  ground. 
'  Fairly  tight;  free  washing  ground. 

Fairly  tight;  free  washing  ground. 

Fairly  tight ;  free  wasliinp  ground. 
,  Light  and  partly  cemented  gravel. 
I  Light  and  partly  cemented  gravel. 


Fairly  loose  gravel. 


Fairly  loose  gravel. 


WORKING  COSTS. 


103 


STATEMENT  SHOWING  LOST  TIME. 
5-cubic-foot    close-connected-bucket    elevator    dredge.       Five    and    one    half    years    in 

operation. 
Lost  time  for  the  last  twelve  months  in  operation. 


Total  Time  Lost. 


Bucket  line,  ladder  and  tumblers 198  hours  35  minutes 

o "  PPT15                                             -    -                76  hours  5o  minutes 

stnPtrpr  -                 32  hours  10  minutes 

PumDs    5  hours  50  minutes 

winfhps"                                                     -    -              26  hours  45  minutes 

T  inp«r       89  hours  40  minutes 

Power """II"I"-I"-------I--- 283  hours  10  minutes 

Stepping'a'head'III" 298  hours 

Clean-ups    56  hours  ^^      .      ^  ^ 

Other  causes   736  hours  10  minutes 

Total  time  lost 1.803  hours  15  minutes 

Total   time  running 6,980  hours  45  minutes 

Total  time  possible 8,784  hours 


STATEMENT  SHOWING  LOST  TIME. 

31/,-cubic-foot    close-connected-bucket    elevator    dredge.    Six    and    one    half    years    in 

operation. 
Total  time  lost  for  the  last  twelve  months  in  operation. 


Bucket  line  

Screens  

Stacker  

Pumps  

Winches   

Lines   

Power    

Stepping  ahead  

Clean-ups    

Other  causes   

Total  time  lost. 
Total  time  running 
Total  time  possible 


Total  Time  Lost. 


25  minutes 
30  minutes 


1,578  hours  20  minutes 
7,205  hours  40  minutes 
8,784  hours 


Per  Cent 
of  Total. 


5.22 
.46 
.33 
.45 
.66 
.16 

4.51 
.97 
.58 

4.63 


STATEMENT  SHOWING  LOST  TIME. 
5-cubic-foot    close-connected-bucket    elevator    dredge.      Four    and    one    half    years    in 

commission. 
Lost  time  for  the  last  twelve  months  in  operation. 


Total  Time  Lost. 


Percent 

of  Total 

Lost 

Time. 


Bucket  line .-         

161 

212 

81 

502 

83 

95 

116 

28 

18 

420 

239 

164 

64 

87 

2.276 
6.507 
8,784 

hours 
hours 
hours 
hours 
hours 
hours 
hours 
hours 
hours 
hours 
hours 
hours 
hours 

hours 

hours 
hours 
hours 

5 
35 
45 
10 

5 
10 
50 

55 
30 
5 
10 
45 
55 
40 

40 
20 

minutes 
minutes 
minutes 
minutes 
minutes 
minutes 
minutes 

minutes 
minutes 
minutes 
minutes 
minutes 
minutes 
minutes 

minutes 
minutes 

1 

1.834 

Tumblers      _                _    _  ..    .- 

2.420 

Screens  -      

.931 

Ladder 

5.717 

Pumps              -           - 

.946 

Winches   

1.083 

Lines   . 

1.330 

Spuds  

.319 

Motors   .    

.215 

Power    .. 

4.787 

Stacker . 

2.722 

Stepping  ahead  

1.869 

Clean-ups    

.737 

Stumps  ... 

.010 

Other  causes  

.998 

Total  time  lost 

25.918 

Total   time  running . 

74.082 

Total  time  possible .           

100. 

102 

Tb 

is  dii 


•  Ill  ;  ■ 

excavi  ),.,  H 


-ni'^b.fa 


li.'SKT         .1T9V 


<(}noM     .imY 


Operj 

Elect 

Repai 

Genei 
Taxe; 
Bulli. 

»8.I1 

T. 

W.TL: 

Gr. 

ro.si 

ri0.d£ 

Th 

'  .71' 

is  op' 

watei 

■-{.Hi- 

>:'_ 


Cubit, 
Cubic; 
Avers- 
Total  ' 

Cost 

Th 
most 
abovf 


Daj 
excavj 


Oper£ 
Elect: 
Wate 
Repai 
Gener 
Taxes 
Bulli( 

T( 


IL 

Tb! 

80 

Gbi 

IV. 

-}:.- 

£8 

*fe> 

ao 

e: 

ot 

di.' 

i£ 

n{: 

8 
« 

81 

81 

ei 

81 
£1 
81 
81 
81 
81 
£1 


Th 
and  i 


WORKING  COSTS. 


103 


STATEMENT   SHOWING  LOST   TIME. 
5-cubic-foot    close-connected-bucket    elevator    dredge.      Five    and    one    half    years    in 

operation. 
Lost  time  for  the  last  twelve  months  in  operation. 


Total  Time  Lost. 


Bucket  line,  ladder  and  tumblers 198  hours  35  minutes 

Screens        76  hours  55  minutes 

Stacker         II. 11""- 32  hours  10  minutes 

Pumps    IIIIII-III II 5  hours  50  minutes 

Winches'            ....-"- 26  hours  45  minutes 

Lines   .-.IIIIII IIIII 89  hours  40  minutes 

Power                                         283  hours  10  minutes 

Stepping"ahe'ad"IIIII 298  hours 

Clean-ups    56  hours 

Other  causes   736  hours  10  minutes 

Total  time  lost 1,803  hours  15  minutes 

Total    time   running 6,980  hours  45  minutes 

Total  time  possible 8,784  hours 


STATEMENT  SHOWING  LOST  TIME. 

314-cubic-foot    close-connected-bucket    elevator    dredge.    Six    and    one    half    years    in 

operation. 
Total  tim,e  lost  for  the  last  twelve  months  in  operation. 


Total  Time 

Lost. 

Percent 
of  Total. 

Bucket  line                  - 

458 
40 
29 
39 
57 
14 

396 
84 
50 

406 

1,578 
7,205 
8,784 

hours  25 
hours  30 
hours 
hours  40 
hours  30 
hours  40 
hours  20 
hours  55 
hours  45 
hours  35 

hours  20 
hours  40 
hours 

minutes 
minutes 

minutes 
minutes 
minutes 
minutes 
minutes 
minutes 
minutes 

minutes 
minutes 

5.22 

Screens                                  -        .---__-      

.46 

Stacker  - .-        _  .  -_ 

.33 

Pumps                _ - 

.45 

Winches                                                 -        -    

.66 

Lines    .  _      .               _ - 

.16 

Power    

Stepping  ahead _-  .         -.  .- 

4.51 
.97 

Clean-ups    .        .. .    -  ._        .- 

.58 

Other  causes          _                                     _      .    _  . 

4.63 

Total  time  lost.                ...        .  .      ._  ._ 

Total   time  running 

Total  time  possible 

STATEMENT  SHOWING  LOST  TIME. 
5-cubic-foot    close-connected-bucket    elevator    dredge.      Four    and    one    half    years    in 

commission. 
Lost  time  for  the  last  twelve  months  in  operation. 


Total  time  lost.. 
Total  time  running. 
Total  time  possible  . 


2,276  hours  40  minutes 
6..507  hours  20  minutes 
8,784  hours 


Total  Time  Lost. 

Percent 

of  Total 

Lost 

Time. 

Bucket  line  .            ..    ... 

161  hours  5  minutes 
212  hours  35  minutes 

81  hours  45  minutes 
502  hours  10  minutes 

83  hours    5  minutes 

95  hours  10  minutes 
116  hours  50  minutes 

28  hours 

18  hours  55  minutes 
420  hours  30  minutes 
239  hours  5  minutes 
164  hours  10  minutes 

64  hours  45  minutes 
55  minutes 

87  hours  40  minutes 

1.834 

Tumblers ...... 

2.420 

Screens  ... .. 

.931 

Ladder   .  .      . 

5.717 

Pumps      ...  .. 

.946 

Winches       .. 

1.083 

Lines    .  ... 

1  330 

Spuds  .  . 

319 

Motors    

.215 

Power 

4  787 

Stacker  

9  70'> 

Stepping  ahead  

1.869 

Clean-ups    

737 

Stumps  

010 

Other  causes  

.998 

25.918 
74.082 
100. 


104 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


(a 
■     S. 

9.  s 

W    2 


K 
Q 

(H 
O 

H 
< 
> 

» 

W 

^  f 

«    s 

iz: 
o 

o 


S"  z 


S     H 


O    !S 

2  « 

rr  .  to 


O  lO  O  O  O  LO  o 

Oil 

C^  <M  lO  lO -^  !M  CO 

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u 

i-H  (M  ^  (M  CO  CO  1-1 

t^     1     1 

CM      1      1 

K 

Depth, 

T-H  tH  03  t^  C^  O  lO 

1      100 

lO  to  tD  to  00  C^  t^ 

1    1^ 

Feet .... 

(M  <M  CM  (M  (M  (M  (M 

1    l<^' 

lO      c      1      llO      1  lO 

lO      1      1 

Transform- 

'l^     1      1      l<^      1-^ 

"?  1   1 

ers,  etc. 

tH      1      1      |0      lo 

O 1 

O      1      1 

Clean-ups 

1-H       1       1       1       1       I       1 

•       1       1       1       1       1       1 

^^       t       1       1       1       1       1 

^     1    1 

Stepping 

iwinooioio 

1  <M  CM  T-<  -^  (M  (M 

g  1  1 

Ahead  . 

]oooooo 

Cv|      1      ] 

Main 

1 1 

1      I      1 

Gearing 

1    1    1    1    1    1    ' 

1      1      1 

1        lO      lO      1      1 

iP     '     ' 

Power  Off 

lOrH       IrH       1       1 

CM      1      1 

■^      1      1 

1  lO  lO  iO  lO  lO  lO 

O      1      1 

Oiling  .... 

[oooooo 

2  '  ' 

Motors    _. 

'    1    1    1    1    1    1 

1     1     1 

s 

1     1     1     1     1     t     1 

'    '    '     i 

1     1     1     1     1     1     1 

t     1     I 

H 

Spuds 

1   1    1    1   1    1   1 

1     1     1 

H 

1     1     1     1     1     I     1 

1     1     1 

lO      1      1 

o 

Side 

'^    ITV^    1 

CM      1      1 

Lines... 

|o    looo    1 

->      1      1 

Ladder 

1     '     1     1     1     1     1 

1      1      1 

Winch.. 

1   !   1    1    1    1   1 

1      1      1 

->! 

o 

Side-line 
Winch.. 

1   1   !   1   1    1   1 

i  i  i 

Sand 

1    1    1   1   1    1   1 

1  1  1 

Pumps 

[  1  1  :  1  1  1 

1  1  1 

Water 

1      IkOO      ilO      1 
1      l(M<M      lO      1 

g  1  1 

Pumps 

1    loo    1^    1 

'-I  1  1 

iOlOlO      lOlO      1 

O     r      1 

Conveyor 

OOO      |i-HO      1 

■5l<      1      1 
Clb     1     1 

lO      1  »OC3      1  C3      1 

O      1      1 

Screens.. - 

)0      lOCM      l(M      1 

T3<        1        1 

Lower 

1   1   1   !   1    1    1 

1      1      1 

Tumbler 

:  1  1  ;  !  1  : 

1   !   1 

Upper 

!   1   !   1   1   !   1 

1    1    1 

Tumbler 

1   1   1   1   1   1   I 

1   1    1 

Bucket 

lO      1      1      1  lOOO 
rM       1       1       ]C;l^-f 

■?  i  i 

Line  — 

CO    1    1    |ooo 

lO      1     ] 

1 

OIOOOOIOIO 

lOOO      1 

2m 

■^  CO  1-1  ■>-(  CM  CO  <M 

lOO      1 

C<l  1-1  CM -rt  O  O  CM 

OO      1 

<  t 

s 

1-H  (M  CM  CM  CM  CM  CM 

o 

s 

OJ 

1    1    !     1 

1  wS 

Q 

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'  03  C" 

CMCaCMCM      1 

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S^s 

^H   ^   ^   ^,-<CMCO 

c3  03  03  03 

p  S  5  s-Q-c^ 
t,ut,i-,  ^  ^  o 

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S  <D 

Q)   QJ   Q^   QJ   Cg    ro    C3 

03  > 

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3  ft 


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CO  CO 

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flj 

fejj 

T3 

a 

^H 

O 

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be 

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o 

-^ 

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C 

5 

c 

I- 

WORKING  COSTS. 


105 


H 

o 

O 

Jt 

O 

U 

3 

5? 

M 

o 

O 

CO 

CO 

< 

> 
Q 

> 

«> 

« 

< 

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^ 

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s- 

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t-4 

n 

z 

p 

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g 

M 

hJ 

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dl 

o 

b 

2: 

tei 

O 

2 

Q 

o 
(J 

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o 

V- 

o 

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tn 

o 

o 

o 

o 

a 

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^ 

^ 

6 

2 

o 

El 

n 

o 

z 

t3 

o 

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C  S 


<^  lO  »do  o  Lo  lo 

1-1  <M  O  i-H  d  (N  r-l 


O  CO  CO  C^  rH  T— I  i-H 


Depth, 
Feet .... 


Hopper. 


Power 
Cable. 


1     i'^     I 


Clean-ups 


<0  lO  O  O  "O  O  C3 

Stepping        1-- c^  op  lo ,-- rH  c^ 
Ahead.,      ooooooo 


Main 
Gearing 


Power  Off 


Oiling 


IIOIOOOIOIO 
1  C-1  rt  CO  CO  CO  CO 

[ooooods 


S    !  Motors 


I    I    I    I    I 


Spuds 


Side 
Lines. 


Ladder  12  §S 

Winch..        looo 


Side-line 
Winch. 


Sand 
Pumps 


Water 
Pumps 


Conveyor 


Screens ... 

Lower 
Tumbler 

i ■ 

Upper         I 
Tumbler 


Bucket 
Line  .. 


O  lO  iO  iO  C>  »0  ifD 
IC  CO  to  ■^  -y  CO  •n' 


00  O  O  i-H  C^J  (M  (M     I    lOOi 
1-1  C^  i-r  (>)  (N  IM  <M        COrl 


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05     !S 


CO  f^ 
o     - 

CO    ^ 

o  a 


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it.  ■=■ 


s   be 

So 


^    ■-    o 


^< 


106 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


V.    CALIFORNIA  DREDGING  DISTRICTS. 


1.     BITTE  COUMY. 

Butte  County,  comprising  an  area  of  1,720  square  miles,  or  1,100,800 
acres,  with  a  population  of  about  30,000  inhabitants,  is  situated  about 
150  miles  from  San  Francisco.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  and  east  by 
Tehama  and  Plumas  counties,  on  the  south  b}^  Yuba  and  Sutter,  and  on 
the  west  by  Colusa  and  Glenn  counties. 

Oroville,  the  county  seat,  with  a  population  of  6,000  is  located  on  the 
Feather  River.     It  is  on  the  main  line  of  the  Western  Pacific  and  is 


No.  81.     View  of  Feather  River,  near  Oroville. 

reached  bj^  branch  lines  of  the  Southern  Pacific  and  Northern  Electric 
railroads. 

There  are  two  rivers  in  the  county,  the  Sacramento  and  Feather.  The 
Sacramento  River  forms  the  western  boundary,  and  is  navigable  100 
miles  north  of  Butte  County,  and  south,  its  entire  length  to  San  Fran- 
cisco Bay.  The  Feather  River  drains  an  area  of  about  3,640  square 
miles,  and  flows  through  the  center  of  the  county,  supplying  water  to  a 
number  of  irrigation  systems,  the  most  important  being  the  Butte 
County  Canal  Company's  and  the  Feather  River  Canal  Company's 
ditches. 

In  the  northern  and  eastern  parts  of  the  county,  which  are  mountain- 
ous and  covered  with  timber,  lumbering,  stock  raising  and  mining  are 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — BUTTE   COUNTY.  107 


he 

ly 

he 
ds 
he 

of 

ig 

ty 


0- 

■r. 

ly 

es 

111 

te 

It 

ir 

j-/icuuuijuv  Jiitr.     ^vs  uieuyuig  in  v^aiiiuiiiia  uegaii  in  me  vjruvuiu  aisinct, 

it  may  be  of  interest  to  give  in  detail  some  of  the  early  history  of  the 

industry. 


SUTTER      COUNTY 

MAP  OF  BUTTE  COUNTY,  CALIFORNIA,  SHOWING  LOCATION  OF  DREDGING  LAND. 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — BUTTE   COUNTY. 


107 


carried  on,  while  in  the  valley  and  foothill  regions,  gold  dredging  is  the 
leading  industry,  fruit  growing  and  agriculture  being  also  extensively 
carried  on. 

Butte  County  is  well  supplied  with  transportation  facilities.  The 
Southern  Pacific,  Western  Pacific,  and  Northern  Electric  railroads 
traverse  the  county,  and  river  steamers  run  regular  schedules  on  the 
Sacramento  River. 

There  are  1,600  miles  of  public  roads  in  the  county,  152  miles  of 
electric  power  lines,  four  electric  power  plants,  442  miles  of  irrigating 
ditches,  and  14.000  acres  of  land  under  irrigation. 

The  following  table  shows  the  mineral  production  of  Butte  County 
from  1900  to  1908  : 


1900. 

1901. 

1902. 

190S. 

1904. 

Brick   .  -.          

$485"589 
600 

"£515 
T3"082 

$7,200 

864,978 

1,500 

'l'455 
'4^634 

$5,000 

916,782 

750 

'l'556 
"2'2i9 

$7,200 

1,571,507 

250 

250 

"l"555 

210 

•     358 

$4,020 

Gold     -      - 

1,932,552 

Lime    .    .-           - 

Limestone 

Macadam           

Mineral  water 

1,512 

Platinum  ..    _  . 

1,000 

Silver                                 ..    

2.302 

Unapportioned   .      

Totals     

$500,786 

$879,767 

$926,251 

$1,581,325 

$1,941,386 

1905. 

1906. 

1907. 

1908.       I 

Brick   

Gold   

Lime  

Limestone    ..           .- - 

$3,200 
2,607,500 

"I'SOO 
1.770 
7.1M 

$1,300 
3,016,747 

'i"950 

475 

10,853 

$2,786^840 

"2"i40 
"a  967 

$3,139'398 

"7"9i6 

2,450 

12J08 

Macadam 

Mineral  water  . -  - 

Platinum  .. 

Silver 

Unapportioned   

$105"870 

Totals    

$2,621,104 

$3,031,325 

$2,797,947 

$3,162,472 

$17,548,233 

Nearly  all  dredge  mining  in  Butte  County  is  carried  on  in  the  Oro- 
ville  or  Feather  River  district  on  land  adjacent  to  the  Feather  River. 
The  district,  comprising  a  dredgeable  area  of  about  6,450  acres,  nearly 
two  thirds  of  which  has  been  already  dredged,  includes  in  its  boundaries 
part  of  Oroville  and  extends  six  miles  south  of  the  town,  ranging  from 
one  to  several  miles  in  width.  Some  minor  dredging  areas  in  Butte 
County  are  located  near  Oroville  on  Wymau's  Ravine  and  Honcut 
Creek,  tributaries  of  the  Feather  River,  and  on  Butte  Creek  near 
Diamondville.  As  dredging  in  California  began  in  the  Oroville  district, 
it  may  be  of  interest  to  give  in  detail  some  of  the  early  history  of  the 
industry. 


106 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


Butte  Coi 
acres,  with  ; 
150  miles  fr 
Tehama  and 
the  west  by 

Oroville,  t 
Feather  Riv 


i 


A 


\ 


7-/f|,V^ 


1 


reached  by  b 
railroads. 

There  are  t 
Sacramento 
miles  north  o' 
cisco  Bay.     1 
miles,  and  fio^ 
number  of   i 
County  Cana 
ditches. 

In  the  northern  and  eastern  parts  of  the  county,  which  are  mountain- 
ous and  covered  with  timber,  lumbering,  stock  raising  and  mining  are 


"^^^ 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — BUTTE  COUNTY. 


107 


carried  on,  while  in  the  valley  and  foothill  regions,  gold  dredging  is  the 
leading  industry,  fruit  growing  and  agriculture  being  also  extensively 
carried  on. 

Butte  County  is  well  supplied  with  transportation  facilities.  The 
Southern  Pacific,  Western  Pacific,  and  Northern  Electric  railroads 
traverse  the  county,  and  river  steamers  run  regular  schedules  on  the 
Sacramento  River. 

There  are  1,600  miles  of  public  roads  in  the  county,  152  miles  of 
electric  power  lines,  four  electric  power  plants,  442  miles  of  irrigating 
ditches,  and  14,000  acres  of  land  under  irrigation. 

The  following  table  shows  the  mineral  production  of  Butte  County 
from  1900  to  1908 : 


1900. 

1901. 

1902. 

1903. 

1904. 

Brick   

$485'589 
600 

"I'sis 

ia082 

$7,200 

864,978 

1,500 

'U55 
'4;634 

$5,000 

916,782 

750 

'1^500 
"2'2i9 

$7,200 

1,571,507 

250 

250 

'X550 

210 

•    358 

$4,020 

Gold     

1,932,552 

Lime    .---._     . 

Limestone    ..  . 

Macadam                     _    ._ 

Mineral  water 

1,512 

Platinum  ..                 .. 

1,000 

Silver    

2,302 

Unapportioned  . 

Totals   — 

$500,786 

$879,767 

$926,251 

$1,581,325 

$1,941,386 

1905. 

1906. 

1907. 

1908. 

Brick     ... 

$3,200 
2,607,500 

"I'SOO 
1.770 
7,134 

$1,300 
3,016,747 

'l"950 

475 

10,853 

$2,786"840 

"2"i40 
"8^967 

$3,139'398 

"7'9i6 

2,450 

12J08 

Gold   .    

Lime  .  .. 

Limestone    ._        ._ 

Macadam    .  - 

Mineral  water  .                    .     . 

Platinum  ..    - 

Silver  

Unapportioned   

$105,870 

Totals 

$2,621,104 

$3,031,325 

$2,797,947 

$3,162,472 

$17,548,233 

Nearh'  all  dredge  mining  in  Butte  County  is  carried  on  in  the  Oro- 
ville  or  Feather  River  district  on  land  adjacent  to  the  Feather  River. 
The  district,  comprising  a  dredgeable  area  of  about  6,450  acres,  nearly 
two  thirds  of  which  has  been  already  dredged,  includes  in  its  boundaries 
part  of  Oroville  and  extends  six  miles  south  of  the  town,  ranging  from 
one  to  several  miles  in  width.  Some  minor  dredging  areas  in  Butte 
County  are  located  near  Oroville  on  Wyman's  Ravine  and  Honcut 
Creek,  tributaries  of  the  Feather  River,  and  on  Butte  Creek  near 
Diamondville.  As  dredging  in  California  began  in  the  Oroville  district, 
it  may  be  of  interest  to  give  in  detail  some  of  the  early  history  of  the 
industry. 


108 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


"W.  P.  Hammon  and  Warren  Treat  were  among  the  first  to  attempt 
working  the  gravels  for  gold  on  a  large  scale  or  by  different  methods 
than  the  sluice  box  or  rocker.    Treat,  in  the  summer  of  1S95,  sunk  a  pit 

about  100  feet  square  

to    bedrock,    using    a  «^^'^  ^-^ -'^^**«^- 

centrifugal  pump  to 
handle  the  water,  and 
in  spite  of  the  heavy 
costs  caused  by  the 
rehandling  of  the 
gravel  several  times 
by  manual  labor  and 
for  pumping,  made  a 
profit.  Hammon 
working  another  pit 
found  the  heavy  tlow 
of  w  a  t  e  r  on  ap- 
proaching bedrock 
prevented  profitable 
w^orking  of  the  lower 
gravel,  but  from  the 
values  recovered, 
realized  the  great  im- 
portance  of  the 
gravel  fields  if  eco- 
nomic methods  could 
be  utilized,  and  had 
for  some  time 
thought  of  the  then 
little  known  process 
of  gold  dredging  in 
connection  with 
same.  He  accord- 
ingly secured  favor- 
able options  on  a 
large  area  of  ground 
in  the  vicinity  of 
Oroville.  Thomas 

Couch,  a  Montana 
mining  man,  was  in- 
terested in  the  ven- 
ture by  Frank  T. 
Southerland,  a  n  d 
agreed  to  have  a 


•^~_-..       >  ■J3 


:t^ 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — BUTTE   COUNTY. 


109 


thorough  test  made  of  the  gravel  and  to  tinaiice  the  propositions  if  the 
results  proved  satisfactory. 

The  manner  of  prospecting  at  that  time  was  crude  as  compared  to 
present  methods,  a  couple  of  Chinamen  with  picks,  shovels,  pans,  and 
rocker,  comprised  the  outfit.  A  shaft  was  sunk  until  water-level  was 
reached  and  the  gravel  from  same  put  through  a  rocker,  the  tailing 
from  the  rocker  being  carefully  panned.  The  results  obtained  from  a 
number  of  shafts  sunk  at  various  parts  of  the  field  were  so  satisfactory 
that  Captain  Couch  said  that  if  the  gravel  contained  gold  below  the 


No.   83.     Remnants  of  the  first  dredge  at  Oroville,   the   Feather   River   or 
Couch  No.  1,  Oroville  District,   1909. 

water-level  in  proportion  to  that  found  above,  he  would  feel  justified 
in  ordering  the  construction  of  a  dredge.  In  order  to  determine  the 
value  of  the  gravel  below  water-level,  permission  was  secured  to  use  the 
pumping  plant  of  Treat,  the  pit  being  unwatered  and  the  sides  sampled. 
The  results  being  satisfactory,  the  contract  was  made  for  the  first 
dredge,  the  Couch  No.  1,  which  after  numerous  changes  and  repairs 
proved  a  success.  Soon  after  this,  the  cooperation  of  the  Lewishon 
Brothers  of  New  York  was  secured,  and  the  Feather  River  Exploration 
Comi)any  organized;  i^ractically  all  the  stock  of  this  company  was  held 
by  the  Lewishons.  Couch,  Ilammon,  and  Southerland. 

Whih:>  much  credit  is  due  to  Captain  Couch,  who  has  lieen  thought 
by  many  to  be  the  principal  figure  in  the  early  liislory  of  dredging  in 
California,  it  must  not  be  overlooked  that  the  whole  scheme  criginated 
with  W.  P.  Hammon.  and  it  was  his  enterprise  and  faith  in  the  project 
that  ciiconraged  the  others  and  kept  the  work  going  in  spite  of  repeated 
setbacks,  sufficiently  discouraging  to  overwhelm  men  of  great  determina- 
tion. John  J.  Ilanilyn,  the  first  secretary  of  the  Feather  River  E.xplora- 
tion  Company,  was  anotluM-  ])ione('r  in  tliis  Held,  and  took  an  active  part 
in  its  development. 

There  is  a  great  deal  to  be  said  regarding  the  development  of  the 
dredging  industry  in  the  Oroville  district,  and  many  to  whom  credit 
should  be  given   for  their  part   in  the  development  of  the  California 


110 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


dredge,  but  time  and  space  does  not  permit.  It  is  a  well  known  fact 
that  dredging  in  the  Oroville  district  has  been  a  great  financial  success, 
and  for  this  reason,  the  following  table  showing  the  production  of  gold 
as  nearly  as  can  be  ascertained  during  the  first  ten  years  of  dredging 
operations  may  be  of  interest : 


Year. 


Decrease. 


Year. 


Amount.    '  Decrease. 


1898 I  $18,847 

1899 132,412 

1900 154,065 

1901  396,919 

1902  614,380 

1903  1,329,998 

1904 1,632,507 


1905  .„ 

1906  .-. 

1907  — . 

1908  — 

Total 


$2,261,887 
2,768,782 
2,697,092 
3,043,051 


$15,049,940 


$71,690 


The  decrease  in  1907  as  compared  with  1906  was  partly  due  to  two 
dredges  being  completely  wrecked  and  others  more  or  less  damaged  by 


No.   84.     The  old   Oroville  and   California   Company's  Marion  dipper  dredges,   wrecked  by 
floods   in    1907.      Oroville   District. 

floods  during  the  spring  of  1907,  so  that  few  of  the  dredges  operated 
continuously  during  the  entire  year. 

During  1908,  there  were  35  dredges  and  12  dredging  companies 
operating  in  the  Oroville  district.  These  were  as  follows  :  Indiana  Gold 
Dredging  Company,  1 ;  Butte  Dredging  Company,  1 ;  El  Oro  Dredging 
Company,  2 ;  Ophir  Gold  Dredging  Company,  2 ;  Gold  Run  Dredg- 
ing Company,  1 ;  Viloro  Syndicate,  Limited,  1 ;  Oro  Water,  Light  and 
Power  Company,  6 ;  Pennsylvania  Dredging  Company,  1 ;  Oroville 
Dredging,  Limited,  9 ;  Feather  River  Development  Company,  6  dredges. 


"Tox^r^^xc^ 


-^•s 

^ 

^^ 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — BUTTE  COUNTY. 


Ill 


DREDGING  IN  THE  OROVILLE  DISTRICT. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  year  1909  there  were  thirteen  companies  in 
the  field,  controlling  about  6,450  acres  and  operating  30  dredges. 

During  the  year  one  dredge  was  wrecked  by  floods,  one  reconstructed, 
one  destroyed  by  fire,  one  dismantled,  and  one  put  out  of  commission. 
The  following  table  shows  the  numerical  strength  of  the  dredges  in  the 
Oroville  district  during  the  first  and  last  half  of  1909 : 


Operat- 
ing. 

Recon- 
structing. 

Wrecked. 

Dis- 
mantled 
or  Closed 
Down. 

First  half  of  1909 

30 
28 

1                   1 
1 

1 

Last  half  of  1909       ._    . 

1 

The  dredges  wrecked  were  the  Indiana  No.   3,  which  was  partly 
destroyed  by  the  floods  of  January  15th  and  later  reconstructed  and  put 


No.  85.     Old  Risdon  dredge  in  operation.      The   Mangold   No.    1,   now   dismantled. 

in  commission  in  July,  and  the  Viloro  No.  1.  which  was  destroyed  by  fire 
September  2d.  The  dredges  dismantled  or  put  out  of  commission  were 
the  Leggett  No.  3,  w^hich  was  dismantled  during  the  month  of  June,  and 
the  Continental,  which  was  put  out  of  commission  during  the  month  of 
November,  liaving  worked  out  the  property.  A  numlier  of  the  operating 
dredges  were  laid  up  for  repairs  during  the  year ;  among  these  were  the 
Empire,  which  turned  over  in  the  pond  o^^^ng  to  a  leak  in  the  hull,  and, 
in  consequence,  was  idle  for  the  better  part  of  two  months.  The  Penn- 
sylvania and  Butte  dredges  were  idle  for  some  time,  owing  to  repairs 
to  spuds  and  stackers,  etc. 

The  heavy  storms  during  the  early  part  of  the  year  delayed  opera- 
tions on  some  of  the  dredges,  while  minor  repairs  caused  stoppages  on 
others,  so  that  few  of  the  dredges  operated  continuously  during  the 
entire  year. 

The  following  table  gives  the  names  of  the  companies  and  dredges 
operating  in  Butte  County  in  1909.  as  well  as  the  type  of  the  different 


1 


d 

ai 
as 

01 


18! 
18! 

m 
m 
m 

m 

19( 


di 


■id   bsiiael 
„v.    ,   ...HiM   3TAT8   AIUHOtIJAD 


-^1^^ 


fl( 

D 

C( 
in 
P( 
D 

i 

^. 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — BUTTE  COUNTY. 


Ill 


DREDGING  IN  THE  OROVILLE  DISTRICT. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  year  1909  there  were  thirteen  companies  in 
the  field,  controlling  about  6,450  acres  and  operating  30  dredges. 

During  the  j^ear  one  dredge  was  wrecked  by  floods,  one  reconstructed, 
one  destroyed  by  fire,  one  dismantled,  and  one  put  out  of  commission. 
The  following  table  shows  the  numerical  strength  of  the  dredges  in  the 
Oroville  district  during  the  first  and  last  half  of  1909 : 


Operat- 
ing. 

Recon- 
structing. 

Wrecked. 

Dis- 
mantled 
or  Closed 
Down. 

First  half  of  1909 

30 

28 

1                   1 
1 

1 

Last  half  of  1909 

1 

The  dredges  wrecked  were  the  Indiana  No.   3,   which  was  partly 
destroyed  by  the  floods  of  January  15th  and  later  reconstructed  and  put 


No.  85.     Old  Risdon  dredge  in  operation.     The   Mangold   No.    1,   now   dismantled. 

in  commission  in  July,  and  the  Viloro  No.  1,  which  was  destroyed  by  fire 
September  2d.  The  dredges  dismantled  or  put  out  of  commission  were 
the  Leggett  No.  3,  which  was  dismantled  during  the  month  of  June,  and 
the  Continental,  which  was  put  out  of  commission  during  the  month  of 
November,  having  M'orked  out  the  property.  A  inimber  of  the  operating- 
dredges  were  laid  up  for  repairs  during  the  year ;  among  these  were  the 
Empire,  which  turned  over  in  the  pond  owing  to  a  leak  in  the  hull,  and, 
in  consequence,  was  idle  for  the  better  part  of  two  months.  The  Penn- 
sylvania and  Butte  dredges  were  idle  for  some  time,  owing  to  repairs 
to  spuds  and  stackers,  etc. 

The  heavy  storms  during  tlie  early  part  of  tlie  yenv  delayed  opera- 
tions on  some  of  the  dredges,  while  minor  repairs  caused  stoppages  on 
others,  so  that  few  of  the  dredges  operated  continuously  during  the 
entire  year. 

The  following  table  gives  the  names  of  the  companies  and  dredges 
operating  in  Butte  County  in  1909,  as  well  as  the  type  of  the  ditlV'rent 


n2 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


No.  86.     Remnants  of  one  of  the  early  dredges  in  the  Oroville  District.     Old  Risdon  type. 


No.  87.     The  Continental  Dredge  in   1909,  after  ten  years  in  operation,  four  months  before  being 

dismantled.     Oroville  District. 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — BUTTE   COUNTY. 


113 


dredges,  the  capacity  of  the  buckets  and  the  time  the  various  dredges 
have  been  in  operation  up  to  January  1,  1910 : 


Company. 


Dredge. 


Type  of 
Dredge. 


Date 
Began 
Opera- 
tions. 


?3 


OS: 


OroviUe  District. 
Indiana  Gold  Drdg.  and  Min.  Co. 

Butte  DredgiiiR  Co. 

El  Oro  Dredging  Co. 

OphirGold  Dredging  Co 


Gardella 

Gold  Run  Dredging  Co 

Viloro  Syndicate,  Ltd 

Oro  Water,  Light  and  Power  Co... 


Pennsylvania  Dredging  Co. 
OroviUe  Dredging,  Ltd 


Natomas  Cons,  of  California. 
(Feather  River  Division) 


Pacific  Gold  Dredging  Co. 


Leggett  Gold  Dredging  Co 

Wyman's  Ravine  District. 

Leggett  Mining  Co 

L.  ct  J.  Gardella 

Honcut  Creek  Di.<lrict. 
Kentucky  Ranch  Gold  Dredg.  Co. 

Butte  Creek  District. 
Butte  Creek  Cons.  Dredging  Co... 


Indiana  No.  3... 

Butte  No.  1 

El  Oro  No.l 

El  Oro  No.  2  .... 

Ophir 

Nevada 

Gardella 

Baggett  No.  1  ... 

Viloro  No.  1 

Lava  Bed  No.  2.. 
Lava  Bed  No.  3.. 

Empire 

Victor 

Hunter  

Pennsylvania... 
California  No.  2. 
California  No.  3. 
Explorat'n  No.  1. 
Explorat'n  No.  2. 
Kxplorat'n  No.  3. 
Boston  No.  4  ... 
Continental  ... 
Feather  No.l  .. 

(Cherokee) 
Feather  No.  2  .. 
Feather  No. 3... 
Feather  No. 4... 

Pacific  No.  1 

Pacific  No.  2 

Pacific  No.  3 

Pacific  No. 4 

Leggett  No.  3... 


Leggett  No.  4... 
Gardella 


Close 
Close 

Close 
Close 
Close 
Close 
Open 
Open 
Close  C. 
Close  C. 
Close  C. 
Close  C. 
Close  C. 
Close  C. 
Close  C. 
Close  C. 
Close  C. 
Open  C. 
Close  C. 
Close  C. 
Close  C. 
Close  C. 
Close  C. 

Close  C. 
Close  C. 
Open  C. 
Close  C. . 
Close  C. . 
Close  C. 
Close  C. . 
Open  C. . 


1909. 


Open  C. 
Open  C. 


Aug.... 


July,  '09 
Nov.  26,'02 
Dec.  26, '03 
Jan.  22, '08 
Aug.  4, '06 
May  15,'04 
May  1,'02 
May  26, '06 
Oct.    30,'04,Sept.  2 

July,       '03  1 

Dec.  4, '04 
April  22.'06 
Sept.  4. '07 
Aug.  13, '07 
Nov.,  '02 
Jan.  1,'03 
Oct.,  '04 
April,  '02 
Feb.  17,'05 
Oct.  20,'06 
May  2, '06 
June,  1899 
July,       '02 


Dec.  22. '06 
Mar.  26,'08 
Dec.  10,'02 
Mav     1,'06 

,     '02 

April,     '04 


Kentucky Open  C. 

Butte  Creek [  Open  C. 


Jan.   26, '08 
April,     '04 


Sept.,      '09 
Oct.    12, '07 


April,     '09 
May      1,'09 


Nov 

Dec.  31 


Dec.  31 


June 


yr.  mo. 
6 
7    1 

6  11 
11 

3    5 

5  7i 

7  4 

3  9 

4  10 

6  6 


2  4 

2  4i 
7  2 
6 

5  2J 

7  8i 

4  lOi 

3  2| 
3  7i 

10  4 

7  6 

3 

1  9 

7 
3 

7  6 

5  8 
1  11 
5  2 


4 
2    2i 


5} 
5 
11 


Note.— Close  C,  Close  connected;  Open  C,  Open  connected. 

Tile  production  of  gold  from  dredging  operations  in  1909  amounted 
to  about  $2,900,000  or  $103,571  per  dredge  for  the  average  number  of 
working  dredges. 

The  following  table  shoAvs  the  number  of  dredges  in  Butte  County  in 
1910: 


District. 

Dredges. 

Operat- 
Vig. 

Dis- 
mantled. 

Con- 
structing. 

Total. 

OroviUe  .„ 

25 

2 
2 

-- 

1 

26 
2 
2 

1 

Wyman's  Ravine  ... 

Honcut  Creek  ... 

Butte  Creek  

1 

Totals 

30 

-- 

1 

31 

8 — GO 


114 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


In  the  Oroville  dis- 
trict, on  December 
31,  1909,  the  Chero- 
kee and  Feather  No.  4 
dredges  were  perma- 
nently closed  down. 
On  the  Cherokee 
property  a  ISi/o-cubic- 
foot  dredge  will  be 
put  in  operation  dur- 
ing 1910. 

The  Indiana  Gold 
Dredging  Company 
began  operations  in 
1901  under  the  name 
of  the  Indiana  Gold 
Dredging  and  Mining 
Company,  and  up  to 
1907  commissioned 
two  dredges,  the  In- 
diana No.  1  and  No. 
2.  In  1907  the  com- 
pany made  some 
changes  and  reorgan- 
ized under  the  laws 
of  the  State  of  Ne- 
vada, at  the  same 
time  changing  t  h  e 
name.  The  officers  of 
the  company  are  lo- 
cated at  Oroville, 
California,  and  the 
names  of  the  present 
officers  are  as  follows : 
President,  H.  F. 
Perry  ;  vice-presi- 
dent, J.  F.  Newson; 
secretary  and  mana- 
ger, 0.  C.  Perry; 
dredge  superintend- 
ent,   Luther   Hadley. 

The  holdings  of  the 
company  comprise 
163  acres  located  in 
sections    13    and    14, 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS BUTTE   COUNTY. 


115 


township  19  north,  range  3  east,  and  sections  18  and  19,  township  19 

north,  range  4  east,  all  on  the  east  side  of  the  Feather  River  and  about 

one  half  to  one  mile  distant  from  the 

town  of  Oroville.     The  dredgeable  area 

comprises  about  140  acres,  of  which  more 

than  100  acres  have  been  dredged.    ]\Iore 

than  two  thirds  of  the  dredging  area 

had  been  mined  by  Chinese  and  whites 

by  the  processes  in  use  before  the  advent 

of  the  dredge;  the  rest  is  overflow  land 

located  near  the  banks  of  the  Feather 

River. 

Owing  to  the  location  of  the  overflow 
land,  the  company  has  been  burdened 
with  unusual  expenses  and  serious  dis- 
asters to  their  dredging  machines.  On 
March  17,  1907,  the  Indiana  No.  1  and 
No.  2  were  wrecked  by  floods  while  work- 
ing on  low  ground  near  the  Feather 
River.  The  machinery  of  No.  1  was 
sold  and  put  on  a  dredge  operating  at 
Snelling,  Merced  County,  and  from  the 
wreck  of  No.  2,  the  Indiana  No.  3  was 
constructed,  which  was  put  in  operation 
in  December  of  the  same  year.  A  little 
over  a  year  later,  this  dredge  was  partly 
wrecked  in  the  floods  of  January  15. 
1909,  and  after  being  repaired  and 
partly  recon.structed  it  was  recommis- 
sioned  in  July  of  the  same  year,  and 
since  then  has  been  in  active  operation. 

The  operations  of  the  Indiana  Gold 
Dredging  and  Mining  Company  are  of 
special  interest  and  worthy  of  notice 
inasmuch  as  in  the  construction  of  the 
Indiana  No.  1  dredge,  the  company, 
under  the  management  of  0.  B.  Perry, 
practically  originated  Avhat  is  known 
to-day  as  the  Bucyrus  type  of  placer 
mining  elevator  dredge.  To  understand 
the  difificiilties  confronting  the  designers 
of  this  dredge,  one  must  know  that  the  majority  of  the  elevator  dredges 
in  use  for  placer  mining  in  America,  up  to  1901,  were  confined  to  two 
distinct  types  of  construction;  the  old  style  donble-lift  Bucyrns  type 
of  dredge,  equipped  with  tail  sluices  and  tail  scow,  and  successfully 


116 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


used  at  Bannoek  and  Ruby,  Montana,  as  well  as  in  Idaho  and  California ; 
and  the  Risdon  type  of  dredge,  constructed  on  the  line  of  those  operat- 
ing in  New  Zealand,  which  was  the  principal  type  of  elevator  dredge  in 
use  in  California  at  that  time. 

The  operations  of  the  old  type  Bucyrus  and  Risdon  dredges  were  con- 
sidered in  a  measure  satisfactory,  and  few  attempts  at  improvements 


1 


No.  90.     Old  sand  pump  in  operation.     Indiana   No.    1   Dredge. 

had  been  made,  due,  probabl}^,  to  the  policy  of  dredge  constructors  to 
discourage  the  making  of  any  changes,  even  in  minor  details,  owing  to 
the  cost  attached  thereto,  and  also  because  such  changes  emanated  from 
men  considered  comparatively  inexperienced  in  this  branch  of  mining. 
It    was,    therefore,    with    difficultv   that    Messrs.    Perry,    Griffin,    and 


No.   91.     Wreck  of  Indiana   No.   2   Dredge  in   1907. 

Cameron,  after  failing  with  other  concerns,  persuaded  the  Bucyrus 
Company,  of  South  Milwaukee,  to  construct  the  machinery  for  a  dredge 
according  to  their  ideas.  The  result  was  the  Indiana  No.  1  dredge,  M^hich 
as  designed  by  0.  B.  Perry,  F.  W.  Griffin,  D.  P.  Cameron,  and  Bucj^rus 
Company,  marked  a  decided  change  in  dredge  construction.  It  may  be 
said  that  the  large  dredges  in  California,  to-day,  are  improvements  along 
the  lines  followed  in  the  construction  of  this  dredge. 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — BUTTE  COUNTY. 


117 


The  Indiana  Xo.  1  dredge  was  put  in  commission  July  4.  1901,  and 
was  in  active  operation  for  about  six  years,  during  which  time  it  turned 
over  48.82  acres  of  ground,  and  handled  2,645,330  cubic  yards  of  gravel, 
until  destroyed  by  the  floods  of  March  17,  1907.  A  general  description 
of  this  dredge  is  given  in  the  following :  Close-connected-bucket  elevator 
dredge,  built  to  dig  35  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  water,  and  equipped 
with  plate-girder  digging  ladder,  78  feet  long  between  centers,  carrying 
79  close-connected  buckets  in  line,  each  of  3i/^-cubic-foot  capacity, 
dumping  at  a  rate  of  20  per  minute  and  driven  by  a  50-horsepower 
motor.  The  hull  was  86  feet  long,  35  feet  wide  on  Avater-line,  and  6  feet 
3  inches  deep,  with  a  draught  of  4  feet  6  inches.  The  stacker  was  a 
Robins  belt  conveyor,  86  feet  long  between  centers,  carrying  a  28-inch 


No.   92.     Indiana   No.   3   Dredge,  reconstructed  from  machinery  of  Indiana   No.   2, 
Oroville   District. 

belt,  180  feet  long,  and  driven  by  a  20-horsepower  motor.  The  washing 
screens  Avere  of  the  flat  shaking-screen  type,  with  eccentric  drive,  and 
driven  by  a  20-horsepower  motor.  An  8-inch  centrifugal  pump,  driven 
by  a  40-horsepower  motor,  supplied  water  to  the  screens  and  gold-saving 
tables.  The  sand  pump,  which  was  not  in  constant  use,  was  driven  by  a 
30-horsepower  motor. 

The  gold-saving  tables  were  constructed  of  wood  and  Avere  of  the 
present  side-table  type,  equipped  with  riffles  and  quicksilver  traps,  hav- 
ing a  total  riffle  area  of  528  square  feet.  The  collecting  and  distributing 
pan  used  in  connection  with  the  washing  and  gold-saving  arrangement, 
consisted  of  a  steel  tray,  having  the  bottom  arranged  to  give  a  down 
grade  toward  the  center  of  the  tray,  the  width  and  length  being  equal 
to  the  size  of  the  shaking  screen.  It  was  placed  directly  under  the  screen 
to  collect  the  screened  gravel  and  to  deposit  same  upon  the  gold-saving 
tables  placed  directly  below,  through  three  3-inch  wide,  elongated  holes, 
controlled  by  sliding  plate  doors. 


118 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


This  dredge  was  constructed  by  Griffin  and  Cameron,  who  also  in- 
stalled Bucyrus  machinery.  The  satisfactory  operation  of  this  dredge 
brought  about  the  reconstruction  of  the  Continental  which  was  of  the 
Bucyrus  double-lift  type,  equipped  with  tail  sluices  and  tail  scow. 

The  Indiana  No.  2  dredge  was  put  in  commission  in  February,  1903, 
and  constructed  slightly  larger  and  heavier  than  No.  1  dredge,  but 
along  the  same  general  lines.  It  was  built  to  dig  36  feet  below  the 
water-line,  and  was  equipped  with  a  plate-girder  ladder,  88  feet  long 
between  centers,  carrying  80  buckets  in  line,  each  of  -l-cubic-foot  capac- 


No.  93.     Wreck  of  Indiana  No.  3  Dredge  in   1908.     Oroville  District. 

ity,  dumping  at  a  rate  of  18  per  minute,  and  driven  by  a  50-horse- 
power  motor.  133,000  feet  of  lumber  were  used  in  the  construction  of 
the  hull,  which  was  80  feet  long,  32  feet  w^ide  on  water-line,  and  6  feet 
3  inches  deep,  with  a  draught  of  4  feet.  The  washing  screens  were  flat 
shaking  with  eccentric  drive,  and  the  tailing  stacker,  a  Robins  belt 
conveyor.  The  gold-saving  arrangement  was  on  the  same  order  as  that 
installed  upon  the  Continental  dredge.  The  electric  motor  equipment 
had  a  rated  capacity  of  150-horsepower,  distributed  as  follows :  For  the 
supply  of  water  to  screens  and  gold-saving  tables,  one  30-horsepower, 
C.  S.,  motor;  sand  pump,  30-horsepower  motor;  shaking  screen  and 
stacker,  one  20-horsepow^er,  C.  S.,  motor;  digging  or  bucket  drive  motor, 
50-horsepower,  V.  S. ;  starboard  winch  motor,  20-horsepower.  All  the 
motors  were  Westinghouse  Company,  400  volt,  3  phase,  60  cycles. 
This  dredge  was  constructed  by  the  Western  Engineering  and  Construc- 
tion Company,  who  installed  Bucyrus  machinery, 

Indiana  No.  3. — The  construction  and  general  design  of  Indiana 
No.  3  dredge  is  practically  the  same  as  that  of  No.  2  dredge. 

During  the  year  1908,  the  No.  3  dredge  handled  250,959  cubic  yards 
of  gravel,  and  up  to  January  1,  1909,  the  three  dredges  handled  together 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — BUTTE  COUNTY. 


119 


a  total  of  about  5,470,370  cubic  yards  of  gravel,  and  turned  over  about 
100  acras  of  ground. 

The  Indiana  Company  also  controls  and  operates  the  Indiana  Machine 
Shop  Company,  in  which  it  employs  about  twenty-two  men  a  day.  In 
their  dredging  operations,  the  company  employs  about  eleven  men. 

Butte  Dredging  Company. — Was  organized  under  the  laws  of  the 
State  of  Nevada,  and  the  officers  are  as  follows :  President  and  manager, 
William  S.  Noyes ;  secretary  and  treasorer,  B.  S.  Noyes,  Mills  Building, 
San   Francisco,    California ;    dredge   superintendent,    Harrison   Appel. 


No.  94.      Reconstructing   Indiana    No.    3,   June,    1909.      Oroville   District. 

Oroville,  California.  The  company'-  owns  one  dredge  which  was  put  in 
commission  November  26,  1902,  and  dismantled  in  July,  1910. 

The  holdings  of  this  company  comprise  an  area  of  80  acres  located 
on  the  west  side  of  the  Feather  River,  in  section  7,  township  19  north, 
range  4  east,  in  Thermalito,  and  lots  134  to  137  of  the  townsite  of  Oro- 
ville. ]\Iost  of  the  ground  was  mined  by  hand  or  hydraulic  processes 
previous  to  dredging,  and  all  of  it  is  located  on  low,  bar  land,  subject  to 
overflow  during  flood  times.  The  gravel,  which  is  overlain  by  hydraulic 
tailing,  was  prospected  by  means  of  drills  with  test  holes  at  intervals 
of  about  one  to  every  four  acres.  It  is  a  loose  river  gravel,  carrying 
about  40  per  cent  of  sand,  and  averaging  34  feet  in  depth  to  bedrock. 

The  Butte  dredge  is  a  close-connected-bucket  elevator  dredge,  con- 
structed by  the  Western  Engineering  and  Construction  Company,  and 
equipped  with  Bucyrus  machinery.  It  was  tlie  first  dredge  to  be  con- 
structed on  the  lines  laid  down  in  the  design  of  tlie  Indiana  No.  1  dredge, 
but  was  made  larger  and  heavier  than  that  dredge,  the  luiU  being  10  feet 
longer,  and  6  feet  Avider,  and  the  machinerv  heavier  througliout.    It  was 


120 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


built  to  dig  36  feet  below  water-line.  The  hull  is  90  feet  long.  36  feet 
wide,  7  feet  deep,  and  has  a  draught  of  41/2  feet.  The  digging  ladder  is 
box-girder  construction,  carrying  ninety  3i^-cubic-foot  buckets.  The 
buckets  weigh,  each,  750  pounds,  and  the  bucket  bottoms,  452  pounds. 
The  screens  are  end-shaking,  7  feet  wide,  and  25  feet  3  inches  long,  hav- 
ing an  area  of  129.6  square  feet.  The  stacker  is  a  Robins  belt  conveyor, 
90  feet  long  between  centers,  carrying  a  28-inch  stacker  belt,  188  feet 
long.  The  gold-saving  tables  are  arranged  on  the  Holmes  system,  and 
have  an  actual  riffle  surface  of  about  750  square  feet. 


No.  95.     Butte   No.   1   Dredge,   3J-cubic-foot,    California  type,   Oroville   District,   July,    1909. 
Repairing   stern.      Dismantled   in   1910.      See  pages   205   and   206. 

The  electric  motor  equipment  installed  upon  the  dredge  has  a  rated 

capacity  of  165-horsepower,  distributed  as  follows : 

Pressure  pump,  8-ineh  Worthington  centrifugal 40  h. p.  motor  440  volts 

Primary  pump,  2-lneli  Worthington  volute 5  h. p.  motor  440  volts 

Sand  pump,  6-incla  Morris  sand  pump 30  h.p.  motor  440  volts 

Screen  and  stacker 20  h.p.  motor  440  volts 

Bucket  drive  50  h.p.  motor  440  volts 

Winch  motor 20  h.p.  motor  440  volts 

Rated  capacity  165  h.p. 

Average  motor  output  86  h.p. 

All  motors  are  General  Electric  Company. 

Up  to  January  1,  1909,  or  during  a  little  over  six  years,  the  dredge 
turned  over  40  acres  of  ground  and  handled  about  2,665,000  cubic 
yards  of  gravel.  The  company  employs  an  average  of  eleven  men  and. 
taken  over  a  period  of  five  years,  has  an  average  monthly  pay  roll  of 
$1,113.05. 

El  Oro  Dredging  Company. — This  company  began  operations  in  1904 
and  up  to  1910  has  commissioned  two  dredges,  the  El  Oro  No.  1  and 
No.  2.  The  company  was  organized  under  the  laws  of  Arizona,  and  the 
present  officers  are   as  follows:  President  and  manager,  William   S.. 


DREDGING   DISTRICTS BUTTE   COUNTY. 


121 


Noyes;  vice-president,  Ehvyn  W.  Stebbins;  secretary  and  treasurer, 
the  company  are  located  in  the  ]\Iills  Building.  San  Francisco.  Cali- 
fornia. 

The  company  holdings  comprise  an  area  of  218.54  acres,  located  on 
the  east  side  of  the  Feather  River  about  one  mile  inland,  in  sections  17 
and  20,  township  19  north,  range  4  east.  Practically  all  of  this  land 
was  covered  by  placer  pits  as  a  result  of  the  early  Chinese  mining 
previous  to  dredging.  The  gravel  deposit  is  one  of  the  most  difficult  to 
dredge  in  Oroville  district ;  it  is  very  tight  and  in  places  partly 
cemented,  and  carries  throughout  considerable  clay.  The  ground  was 
prospected  by  means  of  drills,  with  one  test  hole  to  every  nine  acres. 


iiyi 

No.  96.     EI  Oro  No.    1   Dredge.     Constructed  by  the  Link-Belt   Company  of   Chicago,    Illinois. 

The  dredges  were  designed  and  constructed  by  the  Link-Belt  Com- 
pany, of  Chicago,  Illinois,  and  are  of  the  close-connected-bucket  type  of 
placer  mining  elevator  dredge,  and  were  the  first  Link-Belt  Companj^ 
dredges  in  the  district. 

Up  to  January  1.  1909.  while  digging  to  an  average  depth  of  30  feet, 
the  two  dredges  turned  over  67.97  acres  of  ground  and  handled 
3,310,000  cubic  yards  of  gravel,  an  average  of  84  cubic  yards  per  work- 
ing hour.  During  the  year  1908,  the  two  dredges  handled,  together,  a 
total  of  1,190,193  cubic  yards  of  gravel. 

The  El  Oro  No.  1  dredge  was  put  in  commis.sion  December  26.  1903, 
and  has  been  in  active  operation  for  over  six  years.  A  general  descrip- 
tion of  this  dredge  is  as  follows : 

HhU. 

Length    90   feet 

Width 45  feet 

Depth  7Afeet 

Draught  6   feet 

Mechanical  Equipment. 

Capacity  of  buckets 5   cubic  feet 

Average  buckets  per  minute.. 18 

Number  of  buckets  in  chain 90 

Weight  of  buckets,  each 1.53.3   pounds 

Weight  of  bucket  bottoms 928   pounds 

Digging  ladder,  plate-girder  type... 72  feet  fiiinchos  long 

Screens,  end-shaking,  area llfi.2   square  feet 

Length  of  stacker,  between  centers 90  feet 

Stacker  belt .30  inches  wide,  U>n   f.'Pt  long 


122 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


The  ^old-saving  tallies  are  arranged  on  the  Hohnes  system,  and  have 
a  riffle  area  of  420.7  square  feet.  The  ladder-hoist  lines  are  one  inch, 
the  port  and  starboard  bowlines  are  %-inch  steel  cables.  The  winch  is 
Link-Belt  Company,  seven  drum.  The  upper  tumbler  is  pentagon,  the 
lower  tumbler  is  hexagon,  and  the  spuds  are  made  of  wood  and  steel, 
respectively. 


No.  97.     El  Oro  No.  2   Dredge,   Oroville  District,   California. 

The  electric  motor  equipment  has  a  rated  capacity  of  290-horsepower, 

distributed  as  follows : 

Pressure  pump,  10-ineh  Worthington  centrifugal  pump 100  h.p. 

Primary  pump,  Worthington  2J-inch  volute  pump 5  h.p. 

Sand  pump,  6-inch  Morris  sand 40  h.p. 

Shaker 20  h.p. 

Bucket  drive 75  h.p. 

Stacker 20  h.p. 

Winch 30  h.p. 

Rated  capacity  290  h.p. 

All  motors  General  Electric  Company.  The  average  power  consumed 
while  in  full  operation  is  137-horsepower  or  102  kilowatts. 

The  El  Oro  No.  2  was  built  a  little  larger  and  heavier  than  dredge 
No.  1,  but  along  the  same  lines  and  by  the  same  construction  company. 
This  dredge  has  a  total  motor  capacity  of  390-horsepower,  an  average 
motor  output  of  161-horsepower,  and  an  average  kilowatt  output  of 
120  kilowatts.    It  began  operations  January  22,  1908. 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — BUTTE  COUNTY.  123 

The  company  employs  an  average  of  thirty  men,  and  has  an  average 
monthly  pay  roll  of  $3,194.93. 

Ophir  Gold  Dredging  Company. — This  company  has  an  operating 
plant  of  two  dredges.  It  was  organized  under  the  laws  of  the  State  of 
Nevada.  The  offices  are  located  in  the  Clunie  Building,  San  Francisco, 
California,  and  the  olScers  are  as  follows:  President,  A.  F.  L.  Bell; 
vice-president,  Roger  Johnson ;  secretary  and  treasurer,  F.  S.  Mayhew ; 
managers,  Brayton  and  Mayhew;  superintendent,  R.  E.  Gruber. 

The  holdings  of  this  company  comprise  an  area  of  about  211  acres, 
located  in  sections  17,  18,  and  19,  township  19  north,  range  4  east, 
about  one  mile  inland  on  the  east  side  of  the  Feather  River.  Less  than 
one  half  of  this  land  was  planted  to  orchard,  etc.,  and  most  of  it  had 
been  mined  previous  to  dredging.  The  gravel  Avas  well  prospected  by 
drills,  and  averages  about  27  feet  in  depth  to  bedrock;  in  character, 
the  deposit  is  fairly  compact,  carrying  in  places  considerable  clay,  but 
few  large  boulders. 

Part  of  the  holdings  of  this  company  belonged  formerly  to  the  Nevada 
Gold  Dredging  Company,  which  was  originally  the  Central  Gold  Dredg- 
ing Company.  The  Nevada  dredge,  now  operated  by  the  Ophir  Com- 
pany, was  originally  commissioned  ]May  15,  1904,  by  the  Central  Gold 
Dredging  Company.  Later,  when  this  company  was  taken  over  by  the 
Nevada  Company,  the  name  of  the  dredge  was  changed  to  Nevada  and 
has  remained  the  same  after  the  consolidation  of  the  Nevada  Company 
with  the  Ophir  Company.  The  Ophir  dredge  was  commissioned  August 
4.  1906,  and  is  the  only  dredge  put  in  operation  by  the  Ophir  Gold 
Dredging  Company.  Both  dredges  are  of  the  close-connected-bucket 
elevator  type  constructed  by  the  Western  Engineering  and  Construction 
Company,  and  equipped  with  Bucj-rus  machinery. 

The  total  yardage  handled  by  the  two  dredges  during  the  year  ending 
December  31.  1908,  was  about  1,064,000  cubic  yards  of  gravel.  The 
total  yardage  handled  by  the  Ophir  dredge  during  the  first  three  years 
in  operation  amounted  to  about  1,800,000  cubic  yards. 

The  Ophir  dredge  was  built  to  dig  36  feet  below  water-line.  The  hull 
is  100  feet  long,  36  feet  wide  on  water-line,  about  40  feet  wide  on  deck 
line.  7  feet  9  inches  deep,  and  has  a  draught  of  5  feet.  The  digging 
ladder  is  lattice-girder  construction  83  feet  long  between  centers,  weiglis 
58,103  pounds,  and  carries  77  5-cubic-foot  buckets,  weighing  each  1,428 
pounds,  and  dumping  at  the  rate  of  twenty  per  minute.  The  stacker  is 
a  Robins  belt  conveyor,  90  feet  long  between  centers,  carrying  a  28-inch 
belt,  186  feet  long.  The  shaking  screens  are  7  feet  and  7  feet  9  inches 
wide,  respectively,  and  are  14  feet  long.  The  gold-saving  tables  are  of 
the  Holmes  system,  having  an  actual  riffle  surface  of  832  square  feet. 


124  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

The  electric  motor  equipment  on  the  dredge  has  a  rated  capacity  of 
26214-horsepower,  distributed  as  follows : 

S-inch  pressure  pump 50  h. p.  motor   900r.p.m.  C.S. 

5-inch  hopper  and  primary  pump 7^  h.p.  motor  1800  r. p.m.  C.S. 

Sand  pump  50  h. p.  motor  900  r. p.m.  C.S. 

Shaking  screen  20  h. p.  motor  1200  r.p.m.  C.S. 

Bucket  drive  100  h.p.  motor   720  r.p.m.  V.S. 

Stacker    15  h.p.  motor  1200  r.p.m.  C.S. 

Winch   20  h.p.  motor  1200  r.p.m.  V.S. 

Rated  capacity  2622  h.p. 

All  motors  are  General  Electric  Company,  3-phase,  60-eyeles,  400-volts. 
This  dredge  was  put  in  operation  August  4,  1906,  and  is  in  good 
working  condition  after  a  little  over  three  years  of  active  service. 

The  Nevada  dredge  w^as  put  in  commission  over  two  years  prior  to  the 
Ophir,  and  is,  in  every  respect,  smaller  and  lighter.  This  dredge  was 
built  to  dig  36  feet  below  the  water-line.  The  hull  is  90  feet  long,  32 
feet  wide,  on  the  water-line,  6  feet  3  inches  deep  and  draws  4  feet ;  the 
digging  ladder  is  plate-girder  construction,  and  carries  92  4-cubic-foot 
buckets,  weighing,  each,  625  pounds,  dumping  on  an  average  of  19  per 
minute.  The  revolving  screen  is  6  feet  in  diameter,  24  feet  long.  The 
stacker  is  a  Robins  belt  conveyor,  85  feet  long  between  centers,  carrying 
a  28-inch  stacker  belt,  176  feet  long. 

The  gold-saving  arrangement  consists  of  wood  side-tables,  equipped 
with  Hungarian  riffles  and  C[uicksilver  traps. 

The  electric  motor  equipment  installed  upon  the  dredge  has  a  total 
capacity  of  168-horsepower,  distributed  as  follows : 

Pressure  pump  40  h.p.  motor  900  r.p.m.  C.S. 

Primary  pump   3  h.p.  motor  1800  r.p.m.  C.S. 

Sand  pump   50  h.p.  motor   900  r.p.m.  C.S. 

Shaking  screen  15  h.p.  motor  1200  r.p.m.  C.S. 

Bucket  drive   50  h.p.  motor   720  r.p.m.  V.S. 

Stacker    15  h.p.  motor  1200  r.p.m.  C.S. 

Winch   15  h.p.  motor  1200  r.p.m.  V.S. 

Rated  capacity  168  h.p. 

All  motors  General  Electric  Company,  440-voIt,  3-phase,  60  cycles. 

This  dredge  was  put  in  commission  May  15,  1904,  and  after  nearly  six 
years  in  operation,  is  in  good  working  condition.  It  was  the  first  close- 
connected-bucket  elevator  dredge  to  be  equipped  with  revolving  screen. 

The  company  emploj^s  about  twenty  men. 

Gardella  Dredging. — This  is  a  private  concern  owned  by  Laurence 
Gardella,  of  Oroville,  California,  and  operating  one  dredge. 

The  holdings  comprise  an  area  of  40  acres,  formerly  planted  to 
orchard,  located  in  section  18,  township  19  north,  range  4  east,  about 
one  mile  inland  on  the  east  side  of  the  Feather  River. 

Gardella  dredge,  formerly  known  as  California  No.  1  dredge,  was 
originally  built  for  the  Boston  and  California  Dredging  Company  in 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — BUTTE   COUXTY. 


125 


1903.  It  was  constructed  by  the  Risdon  Iron  Works  and  after  serving 
its  usefulness  with  the  original  company,  was  sold  to  Gardella.  After 
working  out  the  Gardella  property  at  Oroville,  the  dredge  was  dis- 
mantled late  in  1909  and  moved  to  Honcut  Creek,  where  it  began  opera- 
tions in  February.  1910,  on  the  Gardella  holdings. 

Gold  Bnn  Dredging  Company  began  operations  in  1906  and  has  an 
operating  plant  of  one  dredge,  known  as  Baggett  No.  1.  The  officers  of 
this  company  are  as  follows :  President.  N.  R.  Baggett ;  first  vice-presi- 
dent. R.  E.  Starr;  secretary.  D.  Jones;  treasurer.  R.  E.  Starr;  manager, 


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No.   98.     Drilling  blast  holes  in  front  of   dredge  for   the   purpose   of  loosening   gravel. 
Gold   Run  property,   Oroville  District. 

L.  N.  Parks;  main  office.  3Iills  Building,  San  Francisco;  manager's 
office,  Oroville,  California. 

The  holdings  comprise  an  area  of  122  acres,  located  in  sections  20  and 
29,  township  19  north,  range  4  east,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Feather 
River,  about  one  and  one  fourth  miles  inland.  Practically  all  of  tliis 
land  was  uncultivated  and  had  been  mined  l\v  hand  previous  to 
dredging. 

The  gravel  was  prospected  by  means  of  shafts,  and,  like  the  El  Oro 
deposit,  it  is  very  compact  and  in  places  partly  cemented,  carrying 
consideralile  day  and  some  large  boulders.     The  average  depth  to  bed- 


126  GOLD  DREDGING  EST  CALIFORNIA. 

rock  is  about  35  feet.  An  electrically  driven  Keystone  drilling  machine 
is  operated  ahead  of  the  dredge  and  the  ground  is  loosened  by  blasting 
the  drill  holes. 

The  Baggett  dredge  was  put  in  commission  May  26,  1906,  and  since 
beginning  of  operations  has  turned  over  about  28  acres  of  ground  and 
handled  1,500,000  cubic  yards  of  gravel.  The  dredge  was  designed  and 
constructed  by  the  Risdon  Iron  "Works  and  is  of  the  new  Risdon  type. 
The  following  is  a  general  description  of  the  dredge : 

Hull. 

Length    94  feet 

Width    34  feet 

Depth  7feet 

Draught  4  feet  6  inches 

Mechanical  Equipuient. 

Capacity  of  buckets 7  cubic  feet 

Buckets  per  minute 12 

Number  of  buckets  in  chain 37 

Weight  of  buckets,  each 1,500  pounds 

Weight  of  links,  each 440  pounds 

Digging  ladder,  solid  girder 74  feet  long,  45,000  pounds 

Revolving  screen 26  feet  long 

Stacker,  Risdon  bucket  type;  gold-saving  area,  360  square  feet. 
The  electric  motor  equipment  has  a  total  rated  capacity  of  215-horse- 
pow^er,  distributed  as  follows : 

Motor  Equipment. 

Pressure  pump  50  h.p. 

Primary  pump 5  h.p. 

Revolving  screen  10  h.p. 

Bucket  drive 75  h.p. 

Stacker  20  h.p. 

Winch    20  h.p. 

Ladder  hoist  35h.p. 

Rated  capacity  215h.p. 

The  dredge  is  roomy,  well-kept,  and  in  good  working  order.  Owing 
to  the  hard  digging  it  is  contemplated  changing  the  bucket-line  to  close- 
connected. 

The  company  emploj-s  about  twelve  men. 

Viloro  Syndicate,  Limited. — This  company  began  operations  in  190-1, 
and  up  to  1909,  operated  one  dredge,  the  Viloro  No.  1.  The  secretary 
is  C.  W.  Moore,  with  offices  at  5  London  Wall  Building,  Loudon,  Eng- 
land. The  American  agent  is  H.  L.  Gunzburger,  with  offices  at  519 
California  street,  San  Francisco.  The  members  of  the  London  Com- 
mittee are  Walter  IMcDermott,  chairman ;  INIichall  Arg  David.  Thomas 
H.  Leggett.    The  local  manager  at  Oroville,  California,  is  W.  H.  James. 

The  holdings  of  the  company  comprise  an  area  of  200  acres,  located 
in  sections  5,  19,  and  30,  township  19  north,  range  4  east,  on  the  east 
side  of  the  Feather  River,  about  one  and  one  half  miles  inland.     The 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — BUTTE  COUNTY. 


127 


dredgeable  area  comprises  about  170  acres,  of  which  about  150  acres 
had  been  previously  mined  by  hand,  and  none  of  this  ground  was 
suitable  for  cultivation.  The  property  was  prospected  by  means  of 
drills.  The  gravel  deposit  is  compact,  carrying  medium  coarse  gravel, 
and  in  places,  considerable  clay.  The  average  depth  to  bedrock  is  about 
30  feet.    A  little  platinum  is  recovered  with  the  gold. 

The  Viloro  No.  1  dredge  was  commissioned  October  30,  1904,  and  was 
destroved  by  fire  on  September  2.  1909.  after  nearly  five  years  in  opera- 


No.   99.      New  type   Risdon   dredge,   showing   front   gantry  with  ladder  hoist.     The   Baggett 
No.    1  ;    7-cubic-foot  buckets.     Gold   Run  Dredging   Company,    Oroville,    Gal. 

tion.  The  disaster  occurred  during  the  night,  when  the  hull  sprang  a 
leak,  and  it  is  thought  that  when  the  dredge  listed,  the  electric  wires 
became  entangled,  thus  starting  the  fire.  The  dredge  had  just  under- 
gone repairs  and  had  been  made  ready  to  resume  operations.  This  com- 
pany bought  the  California  No.  3  dredge  from  the  Oroville  Dredging 
Limited,  to  replace  the  Viloro  dredge. 

The  Viloro  No.  1  was  a  close-connected-bucket  elevator  dredge,  con- 
structed b}'  the  Western  Engineering  and  Construction  Company,  and 
equipped  Avith  Bucyrus  machinery.  It  was  built  to  dig  36  feet  below  the 
water-line.  The  hull  was  98  feet  long,  36  feet  Avide  on  water-line,  7  feet 
deep,  and  had  a  draught  of  5  feet.    The  digging  ladder  was  lattice-girder 


r2b 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — BUTTE  COUNTY. 


129 


construction,  78  feet  long  between 
centers,  and  carried  72  5-cubic- 
foot  buckets,  weighing,  eacli,  1,254 
pounds,  and  dumping  at  the  rate 
of  20  per  minute.  The  shaking 
screen  was  7  feet  wide  and  28  feet 
long,  with  an  area  of  162  square 
feet.  The  stacker  was  a  Robins 
belt  conveyor,  90  feet  long  between 
centers,  carrying  a  30-inch  stacker 
belt,  185  feet  long. 

The  electric  motor  equipment  in- 
stalled upon  the  dredge  had  a  rated 
capacity  of  242i/2-horsepower,  dis- 
tributed as  follows :  Two  7-inch 
pressure  pumps,  50-horsepower ; 
primary  pump,  3-horsepower ;  sand 
pump.  30  -  horsepower ;  shaking 
screen .  20-horsepo  wer ;  bucket 
drive,  100-horsepower;  stacker,  15- 
horsepower;  winch,  20-horsepower. 
All  motors  were  General  Electric 
Company,  3-phase,  60-cycles,  440- 
volt. 

The  gold  -  saving  arrangement 
consisted,  in  a  general  wiiy,  of 
wood  side-tables  equipped  with 
Hungarian  riffles  and  quicksilver 
traps,  and  had  a  riffle  area  of  about 
1,000  square  feet. 

Oro  Water,  Light  and  Power 
Company. — This  company  began 
operations  in  1903  and  has  an 
operating  plant  of  five  dredges. 
The  officers  are,  president,  J.  W. 
Goodwin ;  secretary  and  treasurer, 
J.  K.  ]\Ioffatt,  Chronicle  Building, 
San  Francisco,  California;  man- 
ager. Karl  Krug,  Oroville,  Cali- 
fornia. 

The  holdings  of  the  company 
comprise  an  area  of  about  1,616 
acres,    of   which   about    1,300   are 

9— GD 


130 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


located  on  the  east  side  of  the  Feather  River  in  sections  18,  19,  and  30, 
township  19  north,  range  4  east,  and  in  sections  25  and  33,  township  19 
north,  range  3  east,  and  section  3,  township  18  north,  range  3  east ;  and 


No.   102.     Showing  front  gantry  and  bucket-line  on  an  old  Risdon  dredge.     The  Marigold 
No.   2,    now  out   of   commission. 

the  rest  on  the  west  side  of  the  river  in  section  24,  township  19  north, 
range  3  east.  The  dredgeable  area  is  estimated  at  about  1,400  acres,  all 
of  which  is  inland,  and  most  was  unsuitable  for  horticultural  purposes. 


No.  103.     Marigold  No.  2  Dredge  in  1909.     Oroville  District. 

The  company  took  over  the  holdings  of  the  Lava  Bed  Dredging  Com- 
pany with  an  operating  plant  of  two  new  elevator  dredges,  and  one 
dredge  out  of  commission ;  and  the  Marigold  Gold  Dredging  Company 
wdth  two  Risdon  elevator  dredges,  now  out  of  commission.    Three  of  the 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — BUTTE  COUNTY.  131 

dredges  now  in  operation  were  installed  by  the  present  company  and  are 
all  of  the  elose-eonneeted-bucket  elevator  type. 

The  names  of  the  dredges  at  present  operating  are  as  follows:  Lava 
Bed  No.  2,  and  No.  3,  Empire,  Hunter,  and  Victor.  All  of  these 
dredges  are  5-eubic-foot  close-conneeted-bueket  elevator  dredges,  con- 
structed by  the  "Western  Engineering  and  Construction  Company  and 
equipped  with  Bucyrus  machiner}-.  ^Mechanically  they  are  practically 
the  same.    A  general  description  of  the  dredges  is  as  follows : 

Lava  Bed  No.  2. — This  dredge,  which  was  originally  constructed  for 
the  Lava  Bed  Dredging  Company,  was  put  in  commission  in  July,  1903. 
It  was  built  to  dig  36  feet  below  the  water-line,  and  is  equipped  with 
5-eubie-foot  buckets.  190,000  feet  of  lumber  were  used  in  the  construc- 
tion of  the  hull,  which  is  96  feet  long,  36  feet  wide  on  water-line,  and  7 
feet  deep,  with  a  draught  of  4  feet  6  inches.  The  stacker  is  a  Robins 
belt  conveyor,  90  feet  long  between  centers,  carrying  a  30-inch  belt,  187 
feet  long.  The  washing  screens  are  flat,  shaking  with  eccentric  drive, 
and  the  gold-saving  tables  are  the  same  as  those  ordinarily  installed 
upon  standard  California  elevator  dredges. 

The  electric  motor  equipment  installed  upon  the  dredge  has  a  rated 
capacity  of  208-horsepower,  distributed  as  follows : 

Pressure  pump,  for  supply  of  water  to  screens 

and  gold  tables  50  h. p.  motor  850  r.p.m.  CS. 

Primary  pump,  for  supply  of  water  to  hopper..  3  h.p.  motor  1700  r.p.m.  C.S. 

Sand  pump,  not  often  used 30  h.p.  motor  850  r.p.m.  C.S. 

Shaking  screen  and  tailing  stacker  motor,  to- 
gether   30  h.p.  motor  850  r.p.m.  C.S. 

Main  digging  or  bucket  drive  motor 75  h.p.  motor   600  r.p.m.  V.S. 

Starboard  winch  motor 20  h.p.  motor  1200  r.p.m.  V.S. 

Rated  capacity 208  h.p. 

All  motors  are  Westinghouse  Company.  3-phase.  60-cycles,  400-volt. 

Lava  Bed  No.  3. — This  dredge,  which  was  constructed  for  the  Lava 
Bed  Dredging  Company,  was  put  in  commission  December  4,  1904.  It 
was  constructed  slightly  larger  and  heavier  than  No.  2  dredge,  but  along 
the  same  general  lines.  It  was  built  to  dig  40  feet  below  the  w^ater-line, 
and  is  ecpiipped  with  5-cubic-foot  buckets,  which  dump  at  the  rate  of  20 
per  minute.  Each  of  the  buckets  weighs  1.125  pounds,  and  the  plate- 
girder  digging  ladder  has  a  total  weight  of  54,524  pounds.  The  washing 
screens  are  flat,  shaking,  and  the  gold-saving  tables  are  arranged  much 
on  the  same  order  as  those  used  on  No.  2  dredge.  The  tailing  stacker  is 
a  Robins  belt  conveyor,  90  feet  long,  carrying  a  30-inch  belt,  187  feet 
long.  It  required  ]  95,000  feet  of  lumber  in  the  construction  of  the  hull, 
which  is  104  feet  long,  36  feet  wide  on  water-line,  and  7  feet  deep,  with 
a  draught  of  4  feet  6  inches. 


132  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

The  electric  motor  equipment  as  installed  upon  the  dredge  has  a 

rated  capacity  of  203-horsepower,  distributed  as  follows : 

Pressure  pump,  two  7-inch  direct-connected  to 

one 50  li.p.  motor   685  r.p.m.  C.S. 

Primary  pump   3  h. p.  motor  1800  r.p.m.  C.S. 

Shaking  screen  15  h. p.  motor  1200  r.p.m.  C.S. 

Main  digging  or  bucket  drive 100  h. p.  motor   600  r.p.m.  V.S. 

Tailing  stacker  15  h. p.  motor  1200  r.p.m.  C.S. 

Starboard  winch  20  h. p.  motor   900  r.p.m.  "V.S. 

Rated  capacity  203  h. p. 

All  motors  are  Westinghouse  Company,  3-phase,  60-cycles,  400-volt. 

Empire  Dredge. — This  dredge  was  put  in  commission  April  22, 
1906.  It  was  built  to  dig  38  feet  below  the  water-line,  and  is  equipped 
with  82  5-cubic-foot  buckets  weighing,  each,  1,330  pounds,  and  dump- 
ing at  the  rate  of  19  per  minute.    The  digging  ladder  weighs  complete 


No.    104.      Empire  Dredge,    5-cubic-foot,    California   type.      Oroville   District. 

03,925  pounds.  The  revolving  screen  is  24  feet  long  and  6  feet  in  diam- 
eter; and  the  tailing  stacker  is  a  Robins  belt  conveyor,  of  lattice- 
girder  construction,  90  feet  long  between  centers,  and  carries  a  belt  30 
inches  wide  and  187  feet  long.  It  required  210,000  feet  of  lumber  in  the 
construction  of  the  hull,  which  is  102  feet  long,  36  feet  wide  on  water- 
line,  and  7  feet  9  inches  deep,  with  a  draught  of  5  feet.  For  supplying 
water  to  screen  and  gold  tables,  which  are  of  the  Holmes  type,  the 
dredge  is  equipped  with  one  8-inch  centrifugal  pump,  delivering  1,800 
gallons  per  minute  against  a  60-foot  head.  Water  for  the  hopper  and 
spraying  pumps  is  being  supplied  by  a  l-inch  centrifugal  pump,  operat- 
ing against  a  65-foot  head. 

The  electric  motor  equipment  as  installed  upon  the  dredge  has  a 
rated  capacity  of  225-horsepower,  distributed  as  follows: 

Pressure  pump,  one  8-inch  centrifugal 50  h.p.  motor   850  r.p.m.  C.S. 

Primary  pump,  one  4-inch 15  h.p.  motor  1120  r.p.m.  C.S. 

Revolving  screen  and  stacker,  together 20  h.p.  motor  1120  r.p.m.  C.S. 

Main  digging  or  bucket  drive 100  h.p.  motor   600  r.p.m.  V.S. 

Tailing  stacker 20  h.p.  motor  1120  r.p.m.  C.S. 

Starboard  winch  20h.p.motor   900  r.p.m.  V.S. 

Rated  capacity  225  h.p. 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — BUTTE  COUNTY. 


133 


Hunter  Dredge. — This 
dredge  was  put  in  com- 
mission August  13,  1907. 
It  is  built  to  dig  38  feet 
below  the  water-line,  and 
is  equipped  with  82  5- 
cubic-foot  buckets,  dump- 
ing at  the  rate  of  20  per 
minute,  and  weighing, 
each.  1.291  pounds.  It 
required  215,000  feet  of 
lumber  in  the  construc- 
tion of  the  hull,  which  is 
102  feet  long,  36  feet 
wide,  on  water-line,  and 
7  feet  9  inches  deep,  with 
a  draught  of  5  feet.  The 
revohdng  screen  is  25  feet 
6  inches  long,  with  a 
diameter  of  6  feet,  and 
operates  at  a  speed  of 
nine  revolutions  per  min- 
ute. The  stacker  is  a 
Robins  belt  conveyor,  of 
lattice  -  girder  construc- 
tion. 102  feet  long  be- 
tween centers,  carrying  a 
belt  30  inches  wide,  and 
about  212  feet  long.  The 
gold-saving  tables  are  the 
same  as  those  installed 
upon  the  standard  eleva- 
tor dredges  in  California. 
The  water  supply  for 
washing  and  sluicing 
purposes  is  furnished  by 
one  8-inch  centrifugal 
pump,  delivering  1,800 
gallons  per  minute 
against  a  50-foot  head, 
and  the  water  supply  for 
hopper  and  priming 
pumps,  etc.,  is  furnished 
by  one  4-inch  centrifugal 
pump,   operating  against 


134  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

a  65-foot  head.     The  electric  motor  equipment  as  installed  upon  the 
dredge  has  a  rated  capacity  of  225-horsepower,  distributed  as  follows: 

Pressure  pump,  one  8-inch  centrifugal 50  h.p.  motor   850  r.p.m.  C.S. 

Primary  pump,  one  4-inch  centrifugal 15  h.p.  motor  1120  r.p.m.  C.S. 

Revolving  screen 20  h.p.  motor  1120  r.p.m.  C.S. 

Main  digging  or  bucket  drive,  one 100  h.p.  motor   600  r.p.m.  V.S. 

Tailing  stacker,  one  20  h.p.  motor  1120  r.ii.m.  C.S. 

Starboard  winch  motor,  one 20  h.p.  motor   900  r.p.m.  V.S. 

Rated  capacity 225  h.p. 

All  the  motors  are  Westinghouse  Company  3-phase,  60-cycle,  400-volt. 

The  Victor  dredge  was  put  in  commission  September  4,  1907,  and  in 
construction  is  practically  a  duplicate  of  the  Hunter  dredge.  The  com- 
pany employs  an  average  of  60  men. 

New  York  Machine  Shoj). — Aside  from  dredging  operations,  the  Oro 
Water,  Light,  and  Power  Company  controls  and  operates  the  New  York 
Machine  Shop,  which  is  well  eciuipped  and  large  enough  to  handle  all  the 
repairs  necessary  to  the  dredges. 

Pennsylvania  Gold  Dredging  Company. — This  company  began  opera- 
tions in  1902,  and  has  an  operating  plant  of  one  dredge.  The  company 
is  controlled  by  S.  W.  Cheney,  with  offices  at  327  First  street,  San  Fran- 
cisco.   James  Nesbit  is  superintendent  at  Oroville. 

The  company  holdings  comprise  an  area  of  155.5  acres,  located  on  the 
east  side  of  the  Feather  River  in  section  25,  township  19  north,  range  3 
east,  and  formerly  the  property  of  the  California  Dredging  Company, 
which  had  an  operating  plant  consisting  of  one  dipper  dredge.  Most  of 
the  ground  had  been  mined  by  hand  previous  to  dredging  and  none  of 
it  was  cultivated  with  success.  The  property  was  prospected  by  means 
of  drills.  The  gravel  is  medium  coarse  and  free  from  clay,  averaging 
about  28  feet  in  depth  to  bedrock. 

Tlie  Pennsylvania  dredge  was  put  in  operation  in  November,  1902. 
It  was  designed  and  constructed  by  the  Golden  State  Miners '  Iron  Works 
of  San  Francisco,  and  differs  in  many  points  of  construction  from  those 
operating  in  the  field.  It  is  of  the  close-connected-bucket  elevator 
type,  having  54  buckets  in  line,  each  of  6-cubic-foot  capacity,  and  made 
of  solid  cast  steel,  each  weighing  1,450  pounds.  The  hull  is  80  feet  long, 
and  36  feet  wide  on  water-line,  with  a  draught  of  5i/2  feet.  The  gold- 
saving  arrangement  is  of  special  design,  having  a  riffle  surface  of  about 
800  square  feet.  There  are  two  shaking-screens,  one  above  the  other; 
the  upper  having  1^-inch  holes,  and  the  lower,  14-inch  holes.  After 
the  upper  screen  wore  out  it  was  not  replaced,  so  that  the  dredge  has, 
now,  but  one  set  of  shaking-screens,  similar  to  those  in  use  on  the  other 
dredges.    The  stacker  is  a  belt  conveyor,  driven  from  the  outer  end. 

The  electric  motor  equipment  installed  upon  the  dredge  has  a  total 
capacity  of  220-horsepower,   distributed  as  follows:     Pressure  pump 


DREDGING  DI8TfUCTS BLTTE   COl'NTY. 


135 


and  shaking  screen  mo- 
tor 75-horsepower,  rated 
capacity,  consuming  40- 
horsepower  while  in 
full  operation ;  bucket 
drive  motor,  75-horse- 
power ;  stacker  drive 
motor,  10-horsepower ; 
winch  motor,  20-horse- 
power;  river  pump  mo- 
tor, 30-horsepower ;  and 
one  extra  pump  motor, 
10-horsepower. 

Up  to  January  1,  1909, 
the  dredge  has  handled 
about  3.500,000  cubic 
yards  of  gravel.  See 
illustration  No.  107  on 
page  136. 

OroviUe  Dredging, 
Limited. — This  c  o  m  - 
pany  has  an  operating 
plant  of  six  dredges  and 
one  machine  shop.  The 
company  is  capitalized 
for  $3,500,000,  divided 
into  700.000  shares  of 
$5  each.  The  officers 
are  as  follows:  Direct- 
ors, chairman,  Frederick 
"William   Baker,    3    and 

4  Lothbury,  London, 
E.  C. ;  Francis  David 
Behrend,  3  Little  Stan- 
hope street,  London  W. ; 
Sidney  Arthur  Bird.  3 
and  4  Lothbury,  Lon- 
don. E.  C. ;  Henry  David 
Boyle.  8  Old  Jewry, 
London,  E.  C. ;  secre- 
tary.   Henry    Richards, 

5  Moorgate  street,  Lon- 
don :    LTcnt^ral    manager. 


136 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — BUTTE  COUNTY. 


137 


W.  P.  Hammon,  Alaska  Commercial  building,  San  Francisco,  Cali- 
fornia ;  local  manager  at  Oroville,  John  J.  Hamlyn. 

In  the  Oroville  district  the  holdings  of  the  company  comprise  an  area 
of  about  1,346  acres,  located  in  sections  18  and  19,  township  19  north, 
range  4  east,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Feather  River,  extending  as  far  as 
one  mile  inland,  and  in  sections  23,  24,  25,  and  26,  township  19  north, 
range  3  east,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Feather  River,  extending  as  far  as 
two  miles  inland.  With  the  exception  of  about  200  acres,  none  of  this 
land  has  been  under  cultivation,  and  practically  all  of  it  was  mined 
previous  to  dredging.  The  properties  were  carefully  prospected  by 
means  of  drills.  The  gravel  averages  about  121/2  cents  per  cubic  yard, 
and  in  character  ranges  from  a  clean,  loose,  river  wash,  to  a  heavy  bench 
graviel,  in  places  partly  cemented,  and  at  times  carrying  considerable 
clay.    The  average  depth  to  bedrock  is  about  30  feet. 

In  the  Bear  River  district,  the  company  owns  993  acres,  located  in  the 
Bear  River  Basin  in  Placer  and  Yuba  counties. 

It  being  the  policy  of  the  management  of  the  Oroville  Dredging, 
Limited,  to  preserve  the  identity  of  each  of  the  companies  operating 
under  the  consolidation,  a  general  description  of  the  operations  of  these 
subsidiary  companies  is  given.  The  following  is  a  general  summary  of 
the  operations  for  the  twelve  months  ending  July  31,  1907,  during 
which  time  there  were  twelve  dredges  in  operation,  a  greater  number 
than  at  anv  time  since  the  consolidation. 


Total  Cost. 


Operating    $116,402.56 

Electricity 57,013.33 

Water  !  6,995.00 

Repairs    184,509.61 

General  expenses  34,997.06 

Taxes  and  insurance  15,904.14 

Total  expense !  $415,821.70 


Cost  per 

Cubic  Yard 

in  Cents. 


1.46 
.71 
.09 

2.44 
.44 
.20 


Per  Cent  of 
Total  Cost. 


5.34 


27.3 

13.4 

1.7 

45.7 

8.2 

3.7 


100. 


Gross  output,  $895,024.92;  gross  output  per  cubic  j^ard,  11.23  cents. 
Net  output,  $479,203.22 ;  net  output  per  cubic  yard,  5.89  cents. 
Companies  comprising  the  Oroville  Dredging,  Limited : 


Property. 

Dredges 
put  in 

Commis- 
sion. 

Dredges 

Operat-          Acres 
ing  in          Owned. 
1910. 

Boston  and  California  Dredging  Co. 

3 
4 
3 

1                   271 

Boston  and  Oroville  ^Mining  Co. 

1                   469 

Oroville  Gold  Dredging  and  Exploration  Co 

3        !          606 

Oroville  District .-     * 

10 
5 

5               1,346 

Bear  River  Mining  Co.           .         -.         

1                  99.3.10 

15 

6              2.339.10 

138  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

Actual  dredging  time,  73,856  hours  30  minutes;  average  dredging 
time,  daily,  17  hours  54  minutes;  cubic  yards  excavated,  7,793,678; 
average  yardage  daily,  1,923  cubic  yards;  acres  dredged,  163.28;  aver- 
age depth  of  ground,  30.3  feet,  year  ending  July  31,  1907.  See  pages 
85  to  102  for  other  working  costs  of  this  company. 

The  Boston  and  California  Dredging  Company  began  operations  in 
1902.  It  took  over  the  holdings  of  the  Leggett  and  Wilcox  Company, 
which  had  an  operating  plant  consisting  of  two  dredges,  known  as 
Leggett  No.  1  and  No.  2.  Part  of  the  holdings,  the  Wilcox  tract,  was 
land  owned  by  the  company,  the  Leggett  tract  being  land  leased  by  the 
company  on  a  royalty  basis.  Both  of  these  companies  were  promoted 
\>j  W.  P.  Hammon,  and  operated  under  his  direction,  the  personnel 
consisting,  mainly,  of  Boston  men.  After  the  consolidation,  the  dredges 
were  named  California  No.  1  and  No.  2. 

California  No  1  dredge  was  a  5-eubic-foot  open-link-bucket  elevator 
dredge  constructed  by  the  Risdon  Iron  Works,  and  was  one  of  the 
largest  dredges  of  its  kind  at  the  time.  After  some  time  in  operation 
it  was  remodeled  by  the  operating  company  and  equipped  with  a  close- 
connected  Bucyrus  bucket-line  and  3i/^-cubic-foot  buckets.  While 
equipped  with  this  bucket-line,  during  ten  months  in  1906  and  1907, 
this  dredge  handled  394,156  cubic  yards  of  gravel,  at  a  cost  of  6.23  cents 
per  cubic  yard.  After  serving  its  usefulness  with  the  company,  the 
dredge  was  sold  to  L.  Gardella. 

California  No.  2  dredge  was  put  in  commission  in  December,  1902. 
It  is  a  5-cubic-foot  close-connected-bucket  elevator  dredge,  equipped 
with  Bucyrus  machinery.  This  was  the  fourth  dredge  to  be  constructed 
by  the  Western  Engineering  and  Construction  Company  on  the  lines  of 
Indiana  No.  1  dredge.  It  was  built  to  dig  36  feet  below  water-level. 
The  size  of  the  hull  is  96  feet  long,  36  feet  wide,  and  7  feet  deep,  with 
a  draught  of  4  feet  6  inches.  The  bucket  ladder  is  plate-girder  con- 
struction ;  the  screens  are  end-shaking ;  the  stacker,  Robins  belt  con- 
veyor, 90  feet  long  between  centers,  carrying  a  30-inch  belt.  The 
gold-saving  arrangement  consists  of  wood  side-tables,  equipped  with 
Hungarian  riffles  and  quicksilver  traps.  The  electric  motor  equipment 
installed  upon  the  dredge  has  a  rated  capacity  of  195-horsepower,  dis- 
tributed as  follows :  Two  6-inch  pumps  to  supply  water  to  the  screen, 
gold  tables,  and  spray  to  hopper,  direct-connected  to  a  40-horsepower 
motor;  one  6-inch  sand  pump,  30-horsepower ;  shaking  screen  and 
stacker  motor,  30-horsepower ;  bucket-drive  motor,  75-horsepower ;  star- 
board winch,  20-horsepower.  All  motors  are  Westinghouse  Company, 
60-cycles,  3-phase,  400-volt. 

California  No.  3  dredge  was  put  in  commission  in  October,  1904.  It 
is  a  7-cubic-foot  close-connected-bucket  elevator  dredge,  constructed  by 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — BUTTE  COUNTY.  139 

the  Clarion  Steam  Shovel  Companj',  and  designed  by  the  Boston  ^lachiue 
Shop  Company  and  the  ]\Iarion  Company. 

This  dredge  has  handled  over  1,100,000  cubic  yards  of  gravel  in 
twelve  months'  time,  in  fairly  difficult  ground,  and  has  a  capacity  of 
120,000  cubic  yards  per  month,  while  operating  in  free,  loose,  gravel. 
It  was  in  constant  operation  up  to  the  end  of  1909,  when  it  was  sold  to 
the  Viloro  Syndicate,  after  turning  over  the  property  it  was  working  on. 
It  is  intended  to  have  the  dredge  dig  its  w^ay  to  the  Viloro  property, 
where  it  will  replace  the  Viloro  dredge,  which  was  destroyed  by  fire. 

The  California  No.  3  dredge  was  one  of  the  largest  and  most  efficient 
dredges  in  the  field  at  the  time  of  construction,  many  improvements 
and  new  features  being  brought  out,  several  of  which  are  worthy  of 
mention.  The  ladder-hoist  is  provided  with  an  automatic,  friction, 
brake-wheel,  which  gives  easy  and  uniform  control  in  raising  and  lower- 
ing the  ladder.  A  slipping  friction  is  placed  inside  the  pulley  of  the 
motor  shaft  to  compensate  sudden  stalling  of  power  as  it  is  a  protection 
for  the  motor.  The  stacker  hoist  is  so  arranged  to  enable  the  stacker  to 
be  raised  and  lowered  by  means  of  a  reversible  worm-screw,  meshing 
into  a  gear,  and  counter-shafted  to  a  cable  drum,  thus  locking  it  at  any 
given  point.  ]\Iuch  attention  was  given  to  the  design  and  .shape  of  the 
buckets.  They  were  made  of  7-cubie-foot  capacity,  with  a  34-ineh  pitch, 
the  hood  being  made  of  one  piece  of  steel  plate.  The  bucket-ladder  is 
plate-girder  construction,  80  feet  long,  weighing  60,000  pounds,  and 
carries  68  buckets  in  line,  each  weighing  1,800  pounds.  The  tailing  con- 
veyor is  92  feet  6  inches  long,  weighs  34,000  pounds,  and  is  equipped 
with  flat  rollers  and  flanged  idlers  at  each  end.  The  conveyor  belt  is 
32  inches  wide,  and  in  practice  has  shown  great  endurance  by  reason 
of  being  carried  by  flat  rollers.  The  cylinder  drums  at  the  lower  and 
upper  ends  of  stacker  are  36  inches  in  diameter.  The  belt  is  driven  by 
a  motor  placed  at  the  outer  end  of  the  stacker.  The  revolving  screen 
is  of  the  C.  W.  Gardner  stepped  type,  the  shoulders  of  which  hold  the 
material  sufficiently  in  suspension  to  thoroughly  wash  it.  A  distribut- 
ing V-shaped  casing  is  placed  underneath  the  screen  with  two  gates  to 
each  section  of  gold-saving  tables  and  deflecting  plates  are  used  at  the 
opening  of  these  gates  to  evenly  distribute  the  material  over  the  tables. 
The  gold-saving  tables  have  an  area  of  648  square  feet,  and  a  total  riffle 
surface  of  894  square  feet,  divided  into  nine  sections,  each  2  feet  8 
inches  wide,  placed  on  each  side  of  the  screen.  See  California  No.  3 
dredge  on  page  128. 

The  Boston  and  OroviUe  Mining  Company  began  operations  in  1901. 
This  company  was  among  the  first  started  by  W.  P.  Ilammon.  It  had 
at  one  time,  an  operating  plant  of  four  dredges,  but  at  the  present 
has  only  one  dredge  in  active  operation. 


140 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


1           ' 

77(6  Boston  No.  1  dredge 
began  operations  in  July, 
1901.  It  was  a  5-cubic-foot 
open-link-bucket  elevator 
dredge  constructed  by  the 
Risdon  Iron  Works.  After 
some  years  in  operation  it 
was  remodeled  by  the  Boston 
Machine  Shop  Company  and 
equipped  with  a  close-eon- 
nected-bucket-line  and  3- 
cubic-foot  buckets. 

During  the  twelve  months 
ending  July  31,  1907,  this 
dredge  handled,  with  the  new 
bucket-line,  479,473  cubic 
yards  of  gravel,  at  a  cost  of 
6.58  cents  per  cubic  yard, 
while  digging  to  an  average 
depth  of  32.3  feet.  In  1908 
the  dredge  was  put  out  of 
commission,  owing  to  the 
gravel  becoming  too  tight  for 
this  dredge  to  economically 
handle. 

Tlie  Boston  Xo.  2  dredge 
was  put  in  commission  in 
July,  1902.  It  was  of  the 
same  make  and  design  as 
No.  1  dredge,  and  was  also 
remodeled  by  the  operating 
company,  and  equipped  with 
a  close-connected-bucket-line, 
and  3-cubic-foot  buckets.  In 
1908  this  dredge  was  perma- 
nently put  out  of  commission. 

The  Continental  dredge  be- 
gan operations  in  1899.  This 
was  the  first  electrically  op- 
erated dredge  in  California, 
the  first  on  which  variable 
speed  motors  were  used,  as 
well  as  the  first  gold  dredge 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — BUTTE  COUNTY. 


141 


to  1)6  equipped  with 
close-connected  buck- 
ets. It  was  originally 
built  as  a  pump  suc- 
tion double-lift  eleva- 
tor dredge  equipped 
with  tail  scow,  tail 
sluices  and  open-link 
buckets.  F."W.  Grif- 
fin and  Ben  Stanly 
Revett.  wlio  o  w  n  e  d 
the  Continental  prop- 
erty, interested  Bos- 
ton people,  who  have 
since  been  prominent 
in  dredging  on  the 
Continental  ground 
and  elsewhere  in  the 
Oroville  District.  In 
1901  the  dredge  was 
reconstructed  by  the 
original  constructors. 
Griffin  and  Cameron, 
and  converted  into  a 
4- cubic -foot  close - 
connected-bucket  ele- 
vator dredge  of  the 
present  standard  de- 
sign. Among  the  prin- 
cipal changes  made 
was  the  rearranging 
of  the  gold-saving  de- 
vice from  straight 
sluices  to  riffle  tables, 
and  to  enable  clean 
washing  and  even  dis- 
tribution of  the  ma- 
terial, a  set  of  shaking 
screens  was  installed, 
together  with  a  dis- 
tributing pan,  placed 
under  the  scieens. 
The  distributing  pan 
used  upon  this  dredge 
was  changed  and  im- 


■Vfk     " 


142  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

proved  over  the  one  installed  on  Indiana  No.  1.  This  improved  dis- 
tributor Avas  designed  by  D.  P.  Cameron,  and  was  provided  with  a 
deep  collecting  trongh  in  the  center  of  the  pan,  having  a  series  of 
openings  on  each  side  to  feed  the  gravel  directly  into  each  sluice  of 
the  gold-saving  tables.  An  arrangement  of  four  distributing  troughs 
was  installed  on  the  bottom  of  the  pan  on  each  side  of  the  center  line 
to  more  evenly  distribute  the  gravel  throughout  the  length  of  the  dis- 
tributing pan,  which  deposits  the  gravel  upon  the  riffle  sluices  of  the 
gold-saving  tables.  This  improved  di.strilnitor,  with  its  center  gathering 
trough  and  separate  side  openings  to  each  center  gathering  trough 
and  separate  side  openings  to  each  sluice  is  much  the  same  as  those 
being  used  to-day  on  the  latest  dredges  eciuipped  wath  sluicing  screens. 
This  dredge  was  in  almost  constant  operation  for  ten  years  and  four 
months,  until  permanently  shut  down  in  November,  1909,  after  having 
worked  out  the  propert}^ 

Boston  No.  4  dredge  was  put  in  commission  in  May,  1906.  It  is  a 
7-cubic-foot  close-connected-bucket  elevator  dredge,  constructed  by  the 
Boston  Machine  Shop  Company,  and  equipped  with  Marion  machinery. 
During  the  first  year  in  operation  it  handled  an  average  of  93,000 
cubic  yards  of  gravel  per  month,  while  digging  to  an  average  depth  of 
28  feet.  It  is  the  only  dredge  being  operated  by  the  company  at  the 
present  time. 

In  the  construction  of  the  Boston  No.  4  dredge,  an  improvement  was 
made  in  the  construction  of  the  forward  gantry  frame.  In  place  of  the 
old  "A"  frame  design,  four  parallel  upright  posts,  strengthened  with 
braces  are  securelj'  tied  to  the  main  framing  of  the  boat,  and  slope 
forward  at  an  angle  of  5  1-16  inches  horizontal  to  1  foot  vertical. 
There  are  68  close-connected  buckets  in  line,  dumping  at  a  rate  of  20 
per  minute  and  driven  by  a  150-horsepower  motor.  The  upper  tumbler 
is  pentagonal,  and  the  lower  hexagonal.  The  tailing  stacker  is  a  belt 
conveyor;  the  revolving  screen  is  30  feet  long  and  6  feet  in  diameter. 
The  spuds  are,  as  usual,  one  wood  and  one  steel.  The  motor  equipment 
installed  upon  the  dredge  has  a  rated  capacitj'  of  360-horsepower, 
divided  as  follows:  High  pressure  pump,  50-horsepower ;  low  pressure 
pump,  25-horsepower ;  main  digging  motor  and  ladder  hoist,  150-horse- 
power ;  priming  pump,  10-horsepower ;  sand  pump,  75-horsepower ; 
winches,  25-horsepower ;  screen  and  stacker  drive,  25-horsepower. 

Oroville  Dredging  and  Exploration  Company  began  operations  in 
1902.  The  personnel  of  the  company  consisted  of  John  Hays  Hammond, 
F.  "W.  Bradley,  J.  E.  Doolittle,  and  others.  The  holdings  are  located 
on  the  west  side  of  the  Feather  River. 

Exploration  No.  1  dredge,  formerly  known  as  Biggs  No.  1,  was  put  in 
commission  in  April,  1902.  It  was  a  4-cubic-foot  open-link-bucket 
elevator  dredge,  constructed  by  the  Risdon  Iron  "Works,  and  later  recon- 


DREDGING   DISTRICTS BUTTE   COUNTY. 


143 


/ 


structed  by  the  present  operating  company,  and  equipped  with  a  elose- 
conneeted  bucket  line,  and  buckets  of  3-cubic-foot  capacity. 

This  dredge  is  an  example  of  the  earlier  Risdon  boats,  and  was  con- 
structed with  the  pitched  roof  of  the  housing  and  the  gold-saving  tables 
and  trommel  located  outside  the  housing.  Tlie  hull  of  this  dredge  is  86 
feet  long,  30  feet  wide  and  7 
feet  deep.  The  digging  lad- 
der carries  78  close-connected 
buckets,  each  of  3-cubic-foot 
capacity.  The  washing  screen 
is  4  feet  6  inches  in  diameter 
and  25  feet  long.  The  12  sec- 
tions of  the  gold-saving  tables 
slope  from  the  screen  towards 
each  side,  and  empty  into 
side  sluices.  The  tailing 
stacker  is  of  the  usual  Risdon 
bucket  type,  and  headlines 
are  used  in  place  of  spuds. 

Exploration  No.  2  dredge, 
formerly  known  as  Biggs 
No.  2,  began  operations  in 
1905.  It  is  5-cubic-foot  elose- 
connected-bucket  elevator 
dredge,  constructed  by  the 
Western  Engineering  Con- 
struction Company,  and 
equipped  with  Bucyrus  ma- 
chinery, and  was  built  to  dig 
30  feet  below  water-level.  The 
hull  is  94  feet  long,  36  feet 
wide,  7  feet  deep,  and  draws 
4  feet  6  inches.  The  dig- 
ging ladder  is  lattice-girder 
construction  and  weighs 
45,775  pounds,  including  roll- 
ers and  bearings,  etc.  Tlie 
screens  are  end-shaking,  14 
feet  wide  and  26  feet  long. 
The  stacker  is  lattice-girder 
construction,  90  feet  between 
centers,  carrying  a  belt  30 
inches  wide.     The  gold-saving 


M.m<^»\lirM 


144  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

area  consists  of  wood  side-tables,  equipped  with  Hungarian  riffles  and 
quicksilver  traps. 

The  electric  motor  equipment  installed  upon  the  dredge  has  a  rated 
capacity  of  238-horsepower,  divided  as  follows :  One  50-horsepower 
motor,  direct-connected  to  two  7-inch  pumps  for.  the  supply  of  water  to 
screen ;  one  30-horsepower  motor,  connected  to  a  6-inch  sand  pump ; 
shaking  screen  motor,  20-horsepower ;  bucket-drive  motor,  100-horse- 
power ;  starboard  winch  motor,  20-horsepower ;  tailing  stacker,  15-horse- 
power;  priming  pump,  3-horsepower.  This  dredge  is  one  of  the  three 
now  being  operated  by  this  company. 


No.  111.     Showing  top  soil  and  part  of  dredge  pond,  Oroville,  Cal. 

Exploration  No.  3  dredge  was  put  in  commission  October  20,  1906. 
It  is  a  close-connected-bucket  elevator  dredge,  constructed  by  the 
Boston  jMachine  Shop  Company,  and  equipped  with  Marion  machinery 
and  7-cubic-foot  buckets.  During  the  first  ten  months  in  operation, 
this  dredge  handled  an  average  of  90,000  cubic  yards  of  gravel  per 
month,  while  digging  to  an  average  depth  of  351/2  f^^t  in  difficult 
ground. 

Tlie  Boston  Machine  Sliop  Company  was  organized  for  the  purpose 
of  centralizing  the  purchase  of  supplies  for  the  different  dredges  operated 
under  Oroville  Dredging,  Limited,  thereby  securing  the  rebates  recruing 
from  the  purchase  of  large  lists  of  dredge  parts,  and  also  for  the  purpose 
of  constructing  and  repairing  the  machines  without  the  loss  of  time 
incident  to  the  placing  of  these  orders  at  distant  points. 

The  Feather  River  division  of  the  Natomas  Consolidated  of  Califor- 
nia has  an  operating  plant  consisting  of  two  dredges.     On  January  1, 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — BUTTE  COUNTY. 


145 


1909,  the  Natomas  Consolidated  of  California  took  over  the  holdings 
of  the  Cherokee  Gold  Dredging  Company,  having  an  area  of  200  acres, 
and  an  operating  plant  of  one  dredge ;  and  the  Feather  River  Explora- 
tion Company,  having  an  area  of  about  900  acres  and  five  dredges,  some 
of  which  were  abandoned. 

The  total  holdings  of  the  company  comprise  an  area  of  about  1,36-4 
acres,  located  in  sections  24.  25,  and  26,  township  19  north,  range  3  east, 
on  the  west  side  of  the  Feather  River,  extending  as  far  as  one  mile 
inland ;  and  in  section  3,  township  18  north,  range  3  east,  and  section  24, 
township  19  north,  range  3  east,  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  extending 


No.    112.     The   Cherokee  Dredge,   July,    1909,    California  type  working  on  headline. 
District.      Closed    down    December    31,    1909. 


Oroville 


as  far  as  one  and  a  half  miles  inland.  With  the  exception  of  about  80 
acres,  none  of  this  land  has  been  under  cultivation,  and  most  of  it  was 
mined  by  hand  previous  to  dredging.  On  some  of  this  land  the  first 
dredging  operations  in  the  Oroville  district  were  carried  on.  The 
gravel  averages  from  9  cents  to  14  cents  per  cubic  yard,  the  upper  part 
of  the  property  being  the  richer,  and  in  character  the  gravel  is  a  clean 
river  wash,  in  places  overlain  by  several  feet  of  heavy  loam.  The 
average  depth  to  bedrock  ranges  from  25  to  40  feet. 

Feather  Xo.  1  dredge,  formerly  known  as  the  Cherokee,  was  originally 
built  for  the  Cherokee  Gold  Dredging  Company  and  put  in  commission 
in  July  of  1902.  It  operated  for  over  seven  years  and  was  in  good 
working  condition  when  shut  down  December  31,  1909. 

The  Cherokee  is  a  dose-conneeted-bucket  elevator  dredge,  built  to 
dig   45    feet   below    the   water-line,    and    equipped    with    5-cubic-foot 

10— GD 


146  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA, 

buckets.  The  hull  is  93  feet  long,  36  feet  beam,  7  feet  deep,  with  a 
draught  of  4  feet  6  inches.  About  200,000  feet  of  lumber  were  used  in 
the  construction  of  the  hull.  The  stacker  is  a  Robins  belt  conveyor,  90 
feet  long  between  centers,  carrying  a  30-inch  belt.  The  ladder  is  plate- 
girder  construction,  and  the  gold-saving  tables  are  of  the  wood  side- 
table  type,  equipped  with  Hungarian  riffles  and  quicksilver  traps.  The 
washing  screens  are  end-shaking. 

This  dredge  differed  from  the  usual  type  of  Bucyrus  dredges  in  that 
it  worked  on  a  headline,  in  place  of  spuds.  It  was  constructed  by 
Griffin  and  Cameron,  and  equipped  with  Bucyrus  machinery. 

The  electric  motor  equipment  installed  upon  the  dredge  has  a  rated 
capacity  of  205-horsepower,  and  the  average  power  consumed  Avhile  in 
full  operation  is  about  203-horsepower. 


No.   113.     Feather  River   No.  2   Dredge.     Risdon  type.     Not  in  operation. 

The  Feather  River  Exploration  Company  was  the  first  company  to 
begin  dredging  operations  in  the  Oroville  district.  It  was  originally 
started  by  W.  P.  Hammon  and  Captain  Thomas  Couch,  and  to  these 
enterprising  men  much  credit  is  due  for  the  rapid  development  of  gold 
dredging  in  California  since  1897.  The  holdings  of  this  company  were 
taken  over  by  the  Feather  River  Development  Company  in  January, 
1906. 

The  first  dredge  to  be  built  by  the  Feather  River  Exploration  Com- 
pany was  known  as  Couch  No.  1,  and  later  operated  as  Feather  River 
No.  1  dredge.  It  was  put  in  commission  March  1,  1898,  and  was  an 
early  Risdon  machine,  constructed  on  the  lines  of  those  iLsed  in  New 
Zealand.  It  was  the  first  successful  bucket  elevator  dredge  in  Cali- 
fornia. 

The  next  two  dredges  to  be  put  in  operation  by  the  Feather  River 
Development  Company  were  known  as  Couch  No.  2  and  No.  3.  and  later 
operated  as  Feather  River  No.  2  and  No.  3  dredges.  They  were  put  in 
commission  on  June  8,  1900,  and  operated  successfully  until  shut  down. 
Like  No.  1  dredge  they  were  both  designed  and  constructed  by  the 
Risdon  Iron  Works. 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — BUTTE  COUNTY. 


147 


The  fourth  dredge  to  be  built  ])y  the  Feather  River  Development 
Company  Avas  known  as  Couch  No.  4.  and  later  operated  as  Feather 
River  No.  4  dredge,  and  when  the  Feather  River  Exploration  Company 


No.    114.     Feather   No.  4  Dredge,  July,    1909,  formerly  known  as  the   Feather   River   No.   5. 
Risdon  type.     Oroville  District.     Closed  down  December  31,   1909. 

was  taken  over  by  the  Xatomas  Consolidated  of  California,  this  dredge 
was  known  as  Feather  No.  4.  It  Avas  constructed  by  the  Risdon  Iron 
"Works  on  the  same  lines  as  the  other  Couch  dredges,  and  was  put  in 


No.  115.     Feather  No.  2  Dredge,  showing  extra  gold-saving  tables  on  outside  of  housing. 

connnission  December  1(».  1!)()2.  and  did  good  work  niilil  closed  down 
December  31,  1909. 

The  fifth  of  the  Feather  River  dredges  to  be  put  in  operation  was  l)uilt 
for  tlie  Feather  River  E.xploi-ation  Company  l)y  the  Risdon  Iron  Works. 
and  put  in  commi.ssion  in  January,  1903.    It  was  wrecked  by  the  tioods 


148 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


in  1907,  and  subsequently  dismantled.  It  operated  under  the  name  of 
Feather  River  No.  5  dredge. 

Feather  No.  2  and  No.  3. — The  only  dredges  now  being  operated  in 
the  Oroville  district  by  the  Natomas  Consolidated  of  California  are  the 
Feather  No.  2  and  No.  3  dredges,  which  were  put  in  commission  on 
December  22,  1906,  and  March  26,  1908,  respectively.  They  are  both 
elose-connected-bucket  elevator  dredges,  constructed  by  the  Yuba  Con- 
struction Company,  and  equipped  with  7i^-cubic-foot  buckets  and 
Marion  machinery. 

The  Natomas  Consolidated  of  California  contemplates  the  building 
of  a  131/o-cubic-foot  dredge  during  the  year  1910,  in  the  Oroville  dis- 
trict.    This  company  employs  about  forty-five  men. 


No.   116.     Gravel  and  sand  bank  in  front  of  dredge.   Oroville. 

Pacific  Gold  Dredging  Company. — This  company  began  operations 
May  1,  1906,  and  has  an  operating  plant  of  four  dredges.  It  is  a  sub- 
sidiary company  to  the  Yukon  Gold  Company,  the  officers  being  as 
follows:  President,  S.  R.  Guggenheim;  general  manager,  0.  B.  Perry; 
secretary,  Chas.  K.  Lipman,  165  Broadway,  New  York ;  manager,  0.  C. 
Perry,  Oroville,  California. 

The  holdings  comprise  an  area  of  750  acres,  located  in  sections  2,  3, 
and  4,  township  18  north,  range  3  east,  and  sections  33  and  34,  township 
19  north,  range  3  east,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Feather  River,  extending 
as  far  as  11/2  miles  inland.  With  the  exception  of  about  100  acres,  none 
of  this  land  has  been  under  cultivation,  and  a  great  deal  of  it  w^as  mined 
by  hand  previous  to  dredging.  The  gravel  was  well  prospected  by  means 
of  drills,  and  averages  in  depth  to  bedrock  about  28  feet,  and  yields 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — BUTTE  COUNTY. 


149 


an  average  of  about  9  cents  per  cubic  yard ;  in  character  it  is  mostly  a 
clean,  loose  gravel,  in  places  overlain  by  fine  loam  and  sand  to  a  depth 
of  several  feet. 

This  company  took  over  the  holdings  of  the  American  Gold  Dredging 
Company,  having  an  operating  plant  of  two  dredges,  and  an  acreage 


No.    117.      The    Kia    Oia   DreJ^e   in 


jlJ    Risdon   type.      DismantleJ- 


of  275  acres ;  and  the  Kia  Ora  Gold  Dredging  Company  with  an  acreage 
of  153  acres  and  one  abandoned  dredge.  In  the  following  a  general 
description  is  given  of  the  dredges  being  operated  by  the  company : 

Pacific  Xo.  1  was  put  in  operation  ]\Iay  1.  1906.  and  when  originally 
built  was  known  as  Perrv  No.  1  dredge.    During  the  first  two  vears  and 


No.   118.     Kia  Ora  Dredge  in   1909.      Oroville  District.     Old   Risdon  type. 


150 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — BUTTE  COUNTY.  151 

eight  months  in  operation  it  turned  over  64.75  acres  of  gravel,  averaging 
341/0  feet  in  depth. 

It  is  a  close-connected-bucket  elevator  dredge,  constructed  by  the 
"Western  Engineering  and  Construction  Company,  and  equipped  with 
Bucyrus  machinery.     The  hull  is  95  feet  long,  38  feet  6  inches  wide, 

5  feet  3  inches  deep,  and  draws  5  feet  9  inches.  The  digging  ladder 
is  lattice-girder  construction,  and  carries  84  buckets  of  Ti/o-cubic-foot 
capacity  each,  dumping  20  per  minute.  The  screens  are  end-shaking; 
the  stacker  is  lattice-girder  construction,  90  feet  long  between  centers. 
The  gold-saving  tables  are  modified  Holmes  type.  The  electric  motor 
equipment  installed  upon  the  dredge  has  a  rated  capacity  of  300-horse- 

'power,  distributed  as  follows:  For  the  supply  of  Avater  to  the  screen 
and  tables,  one"  50-horsepower  motor  connected  to  one  10-inch  piunp, 
and  one  25-horsepower  motor  connected  to  one  8-incli  pump ;  for  the 
supply  of  water  to  spraying  hopper,  one  15-horsepower  motor  con- 
nected to  a  4-inch  pump ;  shaking  screen  motor,  20-horsepower ;  sand 
pump  motor,  50-horsepower;  tailing  stacker,  20-horsepower  motor; 
winch  motor,  20-horsepower;  and  digging  or  bucket  drive  motor,  100- 
horsepower. 

During  the  twelve  months  ending  January  1.  1909.  the  dredge  handled 
an  average  of  117,205  cubic  yards  per  month,  at  a  cost  of  4.44  cents 
per  cubic  yard,  including  dredge  depreciation  charges,  and  3.76  cents 
per  cubic  yard,  exclusive  of  dredge  depreciation  charges.  The  total 
nimiber  of  Avorking  hours  during  the  year  were  6.817. 

Pacific  Xo.  2  dredge  began  operations  in  1902.  It  is  a  4-cubic-foot 
close-connected-bucket  elevator  dredge,  originally  constructed  by  Griffin 

6  Cameron  for  the  American  Gold  Dredging  Company,  and  then 
known  as  the  American  No.  1  dredge. 

Pacific  Xo.  3  dredge  began  operations  in  April,  1904.  It  was  orig- 
inally constructed  for  the  American  Gold  Dredging  Company,  and 
was  known  as  the  American  Xo.  2.  It  is  also  a  close-connected-bucket 
elevator  dredge,  equipped  with  5-cubic-foot  buckets,  and  constructed 
by  the  Western  Engineering  and  Construction  Company.  It  is 
equipped  with  Bucyrus  machinery,  and  was  built  to  dig  36  feet  below 
water-level.  The  hull  is  96  feet  long,  36  feet  wide.  7  feet  deep,  with  a 
draught  of  41/0  feet.  The  ladder  is  plate-girder  construction  and  the 
stacker  a  Robins'  belt  conveyor,  90  feet  long  between  centers,  carrying 
a  30-inch  belt.  The  tables  are  modified  Holmes  type.  The  electric 
motor  equipment  installed  upon  the  dredge  has  a  rated  capacity  of 
208-horsepower,  distributed  as  follows :  Main  pressure  pump,  50-horse- 
power; primary  or  hopper  pump,  3-horsepower ;  sand  pump,  30-horse- 
power;  shaking  screen  motor.  15-horsepower;  bucket  drive  motor,  75- 
horsepower ;  stacker  motor,  15-horsepower ;  winch  motor.  20-horsepower, 
This  dredge  is  conveniently  arranged  and  well  kept. 


152 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


Pacific  No.  4  began  operations  in  January,  1908,  and  during  the  first 
twelve  months  in  operation  this  dredge  handled  132,452  cubic  yards  of 
gravel,  and  turned  over  42.0-4  acres,  while  digging  to  an  average  depth 
of  28  feet  10  inches.  The  average  cost  per  cubic  yard  was  5  cents, 
including  dredge  depreciation  charges,  and  3.76  cents  exclusive  of 
dredge  depreciation  charges.  The  total  number  of  working  hours  dur- 
ing the  year  were  7,161.  The  gravel  was  fairly  fine,  carrying  a  large 
proportion  of  sand. 

The  Pacific  No.  4  dredge  is  a  7-cubic-foot  close-connected-bucket 
elevator   dredge,   constructed  by  the  Western   Engineering   and   Con- 


No.   120.     Gold-saving  tables  on  Pacific   No.   4   Dredge,   Oroville,   Cal. 

struction  Company,  and  equipped  with  Bucyrus  machinery.  It  was 
built  to  dig  36  feet  below  water-line.  The  hull  is  95  feet  long,  38  feet 
6  inches  wide,  8  feet  4  inches  deep,  with  a  draught  of  6  feet.  The  total 
amount  of  lumber  in  hull  is  230,000  feet.  The  digging  ladder  is  plate- 
girder,  weighs  78,685  pounds  complete,  and  carries  80  buckets  of 
7-cubic-foot  capacity,  weighing,  each,  1,777  pounds,  dumping  19  per 
minute.  The  screens  are  end-shaking,  with  eccentric  drive.  The  upper 
screen  is  7  feet  11  inches  wide,  14  feet  long,  and  the  lower  8  feet  8  inches 
wide  and  14  feet  long.  The  tailing  conveyor  is  lattice-girder,  90  feet 
long  between  centers,  carrying  a  32-inch  belt.  The  electric  motor  equip- 
ment installed  upon  the  dredge  has  a  rated  capacity  of  300-horsepower,. 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — BUTTE  COUNTY.  153 

distributed  as  follows :  For  the  supply  of  water  to  the  screens  and  gold- 
saving  tables,  one  75-horsepower  motor  connected  to  one  8-inch  and  one 
10-inch  pump.  For  the  supply  of  water  to  hopper,  one  15-horsepower 
motor  direct-connected  to  a  4-inch  pump ;  and  one  8-inch  sand  pump 
motor,  50-horsepower ;  shaking  screen  motor,  20-horsepower ;  bucket 
drive  motor.  100-horsepower ;  stacker  motor,  20-horsepower;  winch 
motor,  20-horsepower. 

The  company  employs  forty-two  men,  at  an  average  wage  of  about 
$3  per  day.  including  dredgemaster. 

Leggett  Gold  Dredging  Company. — This  company  l)egan  operations 


No.    121.     Leggett  No.  3  Dredge,   S-cubic-foot,   Risdon  type. 
Now   dismantled.      Oroville   District. 

in  March,  1904,  and  had  an  operating  plant  of  one  dredge ;  it  was  a 
close  corporation,  with  James  H.  Leggett  president. 

The  holdings  comprised  an  area  of  about  75  acres  located  in  section 
18,  township  19  north,  range  4  east,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Feather 
River,  about  one  half  mile  inland.  The  land  was  part  of  the  Leggett 
ranch,  all  planted  to  orchard  previous  to  dredging. 

The  Leggett  dredge,  known  as  Leggett  No.  3,  was  put  in  commission 
in  the  spring  of  1904,  and  dismantled  in  June,  1908,  after  having  worked 
out  the  property.  The  machinery  was  then  taken  to  "NVyman's  Ravine, 
and  installed  upon  a  new  hull.  It  was  a  5-cubic-foot  open-link-bucket 
elevator  dredge,  constructed  by  the  Risdon  Iron  "Works. 

During  the  five  and  one  half  years  this  dredge  was  in  operation  it 
handled  about  4,500,000  cubic  yards  of  gravel,  and  turned  over  75 
acres  of  ground,  of  an  average  depth  of  about  30  feet.  The  company 
employed  about  thirteen  men. 


154 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


The  hull  of  this  dredge  was  88  feet  long,  30  feet  wide  and  7  feet 
deep,  with  a  draught  of  4  feet.  The  digging  ladder  was  solid-girder 
construction,  58  feet  long,  carrying  35  buckets,  each  of  5-cubic-foot 
capacity,  dumping  13  per  minute.  The  revolving  screen  was  21  feet 
6  inches  long  and  4  feet  6  inches  in  diameter.  The  electric  motor 
eciuipment  installed  upon  the  dredge  had  a  rated  capacity  of  175-liorse- 
power,  distributed  as  follows:  Pressure  pump,  50-horsepower ;  primary 
pump.  50-horsepower;  revolving  screen  motor,  10-horsepower ;  bucket 
drive,  75-horsepower ;  stacker.  10-horsepower ;  and  winch  25-horsepower. 


No.   122.     Constructing  hull  for  the  Leggett  Mining  Company's  Risdon  type  dredge,  at 
Wyman's  Ravine,  near   Oroville,   Butte   County. 

The  average  power  consumed  while  in  full  operation  amounted  to  about 
95-horsepower. 

The  gold-saving  device  was  arranged  differently  from  that  on  any 
other  dredge  in  the  field,  and  is  one  on  which  ]\Ir.  Leggett  holds  a 
patent.  The  general  arrangement  consists  of  a  riffle  system  composed 
of  li/2-ineh  angle-irons  placed  longitudinally  with  the  flow.  The  spaces 
between  the  angle-irons  are  filled  with  natural  cobbles,  as  the  dredge  digs 
them.  They  are  not  paved  by  hand,  as  in  the  ordinary  hydraulic  sluices, 
but  are  allowed  free  course  to  lodge  themselves  where  they  fall,  and  for 
this  purpose  openings  are  arranged  in  the  upper  end  of  the  screen  to 
allow  certain  quantities  of  medium-sized  pebbles  to  fall  through  for  a 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS BUTTE   COUNTY. 


155 


short  period  of  time  innnediately  after  the  elean-ups.  The  sluice 
system  differs  from  the  side  distril)utin<i'  riffle  tallies  generally  used, 
being  continuous  and  somewhat  similar  to  the  Holmes  system.  It  is 
said  to  facilitate  rapid  clean-ui)s  and  avoids  tlie  gathering  of  amalgam 
on  the  tops  of  the  riffles  for  the  reason  that  the  natural  paved  rock 
riffles  cause  the  gold  to  sink  deep  among  the  pebbles.  AVhile  in  operation 
small  quantities  of  quiclcsilver  are  sprinkled  over  the  sluices  from  day 
to  day. 

V^YMAN's   ravine   DISTRICT. 

The  AVyman's  Ravine  district  is  located  in  township  19  nortli.  range 
4  east.  a])()ut  4  miles  southeast  from  Oroville.  The  dredging  lands  are 
located  along  Wyman's  Ravine,  which  empties  into  Prairie  Slough,  a 
tributarv  to  South  Iloncnt  Creek,  which  flows  into  the  Feather  River. 


No.   123.     Gardella  Dredge,  a  Sg-cubic-foot  Risdon  boat,  digging  in   10-foot  ground. 
Wyman's    Ravine    District. 

There  are  three  companies  in  the  district,  the  Leggett  Gold  ^Mining 
Company,  one  dredge ;  L.  &  J.  Gardella,  one  dredge ;  and  the  Garden 
Ranch  (iold  Dredging  Company,  with  one  dredge,  now  abandoned. 

Tlic  Leggett  Gold  Mining  Company  began  operations  in  August,  1909. 
The  officers  of  this  company  are  as  follows:  President,  J.  H.  Leggett; 
vice-president,  R.  S.  Kitrick;  secretary,  M.  A.  Wells,  Oroville,  Cali- 
fornia; treasurer,  H.  M.  Leggett;  manager,  J.  IL  Leggett;  superin- 
tendent. A.  J.  MeShane.  The  holdings  of  this  company  comprise  an 
area  of  about  520  acres,  located  north  of  Palermo,  on  Wyman's  Ravine, 
in  section  5,  township  18  north,  range  4  east,  and  sections  32  and  33, 
township  19  north,  range  4  east.  Of  the  total  area  about  350  acres  are 
estimated  as  dredgeable.  Of  this  area  about  one  quarter  was  previously 
mined  by  hand  and  none  of  it  has  been  under  cultivation.  The  gravel 
was  prospected  by  means  of  drills  and  averages  about  10  feet  in  depth 
to  ])('(li-ock.     Tn  character  the  gravel  is  a  fairlv  {'Icnu.  loose  wash,  cari-v- 


156 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


ing  few  large  boulders  and  very  little  clay,  and  in  places  is  overlain  by 
a  sandy  loam.    The  gravel  is  said  to  ^deld  15  cents  per  cubic  yard. 

The  Leggett  dredge  was  built  during  the  summer  of  1909  and  was 
put  in  commission  some  time  in  September  of  that  year.  The  machinery 
for  this  dredge  was  taken  from  the  Leggett  No.  3  dredge,  formerly 
operated  at  Oroville  by  the  Leggett  Gold  Dredging  Compam^,  and 
mounted  on  a  new  and  smaller  hull,  built  especiallj^  for  the  Wyman's 
Ravine  property  by  the  Risdon  Iron  Works. 

The  Gardella  property,  located  in  Wyman's  Ravine  district,  is  owned 


No.    124.      Gardella   Dredge,    Risdon   type.     Wyman's   Ravine   District,    Butte    County. 

by  L.  &  J.  Gardella,  father  and  son  partnership ;  manager,  Laurence 
Gardella,  Oroville,  California;  dredge  superintendent,  C.  Endow. 

The  holdings  of  the  company  comprise  an  area  of  about  -41:0  acres, 
located  in  sections  32,  28,  27,  township  19  north,  range  4  east,  on  the 
Fahey  and  Humphrey  property,  about  five  miles  southeast  of  Oroville. 
The  total  dredgeable  area  is  estimated  at  175  acres,  of  which  about  20 
acres  have  been  dredged.  The  gravel  was  prospected  by  means  of  drills, 
and  averages  about  10  feet  in  depth  to  bedrock,  and  in  character  is 
fairly  loose,  carrying,  in  places,  large  boulders  and  some  streaks  of  clay, 
and  is  overlain  by  a  sandy  loam.  It  is  said  to  average  16  cents  per 
cubic  yard. 

The  Gardella  dredge  was  put  in  commission  October  12,  1907.  It  is 
an  open-link-bucket  elevator  dredge,  constructed  by  the  Risdon  Iron 
Works,  the  general  dimensions  and  equipment  of  the  dredge  being  as 

follows :  jj^ah 

Length    74  feet 

Width    34  feet 

Depth    6  feet 

Draught  4  feet  6  inches 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — ^BUTTE  COUNTY. 


157 


Mechanical  Equipment. 

Capacity  of  buckets 5  cubic  feet 

Number  of  buckets  per  minute 14 

Number  of  buckets  in  line 28 

Weight  of  buckets,  each 1,100  pounds 

Weight  of  links 420  pounds 

Length  of  digging  ladder 54  feet 

Weight  of  digging  ladder 30,000  pounds 

Length  of  revolving  screen 24  feet 

Length  of  bucket  stacker 32  feet 

Weight  of  bucket  stacker 14,000  pounds 

The  type  and  arrangement  of  the  gold-saving  tables  are  Risdon  return 
sluices,  the  actual  riffle  surface  being  about  350  square  feet.  The 
electric  motor  equipment  as  installed  upon  the  dredge  has  a  total  rated 
capacity  of  165-horsepower,  a  rated  output  of  84-horsepower,  and 
a  kilowatt  output  of  63  kilowatts.  The  motor  equipment  is  distributed 
as  follows : 

Pressure  pump  50  h.p 

Primary  pump  5  h.p 

Shaking  screen  motor 10  h.p 

Bucket  drive  motor 50  h.p 

Stacker  motor 10  h.p 

Winch  motor  15  h.p 

Ladder  hoist  motor 25  h.p 

Rated  capacity 165  h.p. 

The  concern  employs  about  nine  men  per  month. 

The  Garden  Fanch  Dreejging  Companrj  has  an  area  of  a])out  160 
acres,  located  in  sections  22  and  23.  township  19  north,  range  4  east,  on 


No.   125.      Garden   Ranch  placer  mining  dipper  dredge.      Out  of   commission.      Wyman's   Ravine, 

near  Oroville. 

the  upper  end  of  Wyman's  Ravine,  and  about  four  miles  southeast 
from  Oroville. 

The    Garden    Ranch    dredge    was    a    ]\Iarion    placer-mining,    dipper 
machine,  and  in  construction  was  similar  to  the  one  used  bv  the  Oroville 


158 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


Dredging  Compan.y.  This  machine  had  a  capacity  of  30,000  cubic 
yards  per  month,  and  cost,  complete,  about  $25,000.  It  has  been  idle 
for  some  time,  having  worked  out  the  property. 

HONCUT    CREEK    DISTRICT. 

The  Eoncut  Creek  district  is  located  on  North  Honcut  Creek,  in 
township  18  north,  range  4  east,  and  about  five  miles  northeast  of 
Honcut,  a  station  on  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad.  There  are  two 
dredges  operating  in  the  district,  one  belonging  to  the  Kentucky  Ranch 


No.   126.     Kentucky  Ranch  Gold  Dredging  Company's  boat,  Risdon  type,  operating  on 
Honcut   Creek,    Butte   County. 

Gold  Dredging  Company,  a  stock  company,  and  the  other  to  Laurence 
Gardella. 

The  Kentucky  Banch  Gold  Dredging  Company  began  operations 
]\Iay  1,  1909.  with  one  dredge.  The  company  is  incorporated  under  the 
laws  of  Arizona  and  is  capitalized  for  $300,000.  The  officers  are  as 
follows :  President,  L.  Gardella ;  secretary  and  treasurer,  D.  C.  Howard, 
Oroville,  California ;  manager,  L.  Gardella ;  superintendent,  D.  Rodrick. 

The  holdings  of  this  company  comprise  an  area  of  about  1,000  acres, 
located  in  sections  25.  24,  and  19,  township  18  north,  range  4  east,  on 
North  Honcut  Creek,  about  12  miles  southeast  of  Oroville.  The  dredge- 
able  area  is  estimated  at  about  200  acres.  The  gravel  was  prospected 
by  means  of  drills,  and  is  said  to  yield  al)out  17  cents  per  cubic  yard, 
the  average  depth  to  bedrock  being  about  18  feet ;  the  bedrock  is  a  schist. 

The  Kentucky  Ranch  dredge  is  of  the  open-link-bucket  elevator  type, 
constructed  by  the  Risdon  Iron  Works.  The  hull  of  this  dredge  is  76 
feet  long,  36  feet  Avide,  7  feet  deep,  and  draws  4  feet  6  inches.     The 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — BUTTE  COUNTY. 


159 


digging  ladder  is  steel-girder  construction,  58  feet  long,  weighs  36,000 
pounds,  and  carries  32  buckets  of  5-cubic-foot  capacity,  weighing,  each, 
1,100  pounds,  and  dumping  at  the  rate  of  15  per  minute.  The  links 
between  the  buckets  weigh  about  420  pounds  each.  The  type  and 
arrangement  of  the  gold-saving  tables  are  double  return  Risdon  sluices, 
having  a  riffle  surface  of  about  264  square  feet.  The  revolving  screen 
is  21  feet  6  inches  long,  and  about  6  feet  in  diameter.  The  tailing 
stacker  is  a  Risdon  bucket  elevator.  -1-1  feet  long,  weighing  20,000 
pounds.  The  electric  motor  equipment  as  installed  upon  the  dredge 
has  a  total  rated  motor  capacity  of  about  175-horsepower,  and  a  rated 


No.   127.     Placer  mining  plant  on  Butte  Creek,  near  Centerville.      Now  abandoned. 

motor  (mtput  of  about  TS-horscpower,  and  a  kilowatt  output  of  57  kilo- 
watts.    The  motor  equipment  is  distributed  as  follows : 

Pressure  pump 50  h.p. 

Primary  pump  5  h.p. 

Revolving  screen  motor 10  h.p. 

Bucket  drive  motor 75  h.p. 

Stacker  motor 10  h.p. 

Winch  motor 25  h.p. 

The  Gardella  holdings  are  located  on  the  Mahle  property,  almost 
joining  the  Kentucky  Ranch  Gold  Dredging  Company's  holdings  on 
the  south.  The  dredge  was  put  in  operation  in  February,  1910,  and  is 
the  same  dredge  which  Gardella  operated  at  Oroville. 

BUTTE    CREEK   DISTRICT. 

Butfc  Creek  Consnlidaied  Drrdffing  Conipatn/. — This  company  began 
operations  in  the  spring  of  1909.  and  has  an  operating  plant  of  one 
dredge.     It  is  organized  under  the  laws  of  the  State  of  California,  and 


160 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


is  capitalized  for  $2,500,000. 
The  officers  are  as  follows: 
President,  W.  T.  Bill,  Red- 
lands,  California;  vice-presi- 
dent, Walter  L.  Krug,  Los 
Angeles ;  secretary  and 
treasurer,  W.  H.  Isaacs,  516 
Fay  building,  Los  Angeles, 
California ;  general  man- 
ager, H.  E.  Chesebro,  Chico, 
California. 

The  holdings  of  the  com- 
pany comprise  •  an  area  of 
1,450  acres,  located  in  sec- 
tions 24  and  25,  township  22 
north,  range  2  east,  and  sec- 
tions 19,  20,  17  and  8,  town- 
ship 22  north,  range  3  east, 
on  Butte  Creek,  near  Dia- 
mondville,  and  about  10 
miles  northeast  of  Chico, 
Butte  County,  California. 
Out  of  the  total  area  about 
500  acres  are  considered 
dredgeable,  but  in  order  to 
acquire  this  the  company 
was  compelled  to  take  over 
the  non-dredgeable  land  as 
well.  The  ground  was  pros- 
pected by  means  of  shafts 
and  drills.  The  gravel  lies 
on  a  sandstone  bedrock,  and 
ranges  in  depth  from  13  to 
28  feet.  The  entire  deposit 
is  difficult  to  handle  with  a 
dredge,  owing  to  the  many 
boulders  and  uneven  bed- 
rock. 

Butte  Creek  Dredge. — 
The  Butte  Creek  dredge  was 
put  in  operation  May  1, 
1909,  and  during  the  first 
two  months  in  operation 
handled  about  250,000  cubic 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — BUTTE  COUNTY. 


161 


yards  of  gravel  in  turning  over  about  8  acres  of  ground.  It  is  an 
open-link-bucket  elevator  dredge,  equipped  with  tail  sluices  and  tail 
scow,  and  constructed  and  designed  by  Ed  L.  Smith  of  New  York,  and 
eciuipped  "svith  Taylor  Iron  and  Steel  Company  machinery.  The  hull 
is  109  feet  long,  40  feet  beam,  9  feet  deep,  with  a  draught  of  4i/2  feet. 
It  is  48  feet  9  inches  over  all  to  top  of  spud  casing.  The  digging  ladder 
is  of  .steel  construction,  weighs  40  tons,  is  831/0  feet  long,  and  carries 
39  11-cubic-foot  buckets  and  39  links.  Each  bucket  and  link  weigh, 
together,  two  tons.     The  speed  of  the  buckets  ranges  from  8  to  12  per 


No.  129.  11-cubic-foot  buckets,  Butte  Creek  Consolidated  Dredging  Company's  dredge, 
near  Diamondville,  Butte  County.  Showing  pipe  for  greasing  lower  tumbler  on  the 
upper  side  of  ladder. 

minute.  The  revolving  screen  is  manganese  steel  con.struction.  12  feet 
long,  6  feet  diameter.  This  screen  separates  all  the  gravel  up  to  10 
inches,  w^hich  is  carried  out  through  a  sluiceway;  rock  larger  than  10 
inches  and  up  to  4  feet  is  disposed  of  by  a  strong  steel  chute  over  the 
side  of  the  dredge,  similar  to  those  used  on  the  early  Bucyrus  dredges. 
Water  for  sluices  is  furnished  from  a  15-inch  pump  of  a  capacity  of 
1.000  inches,  driven  by  a  100-horsepower  motor.  The  gold-saving  device 
consists  of  riffle  sets  about  4  feet  square,  4^s  inchas  deep,  and  covered 
with  manganese  steel.     There  are  36  lineal  feet  of  riffles  on  the  main 

11— GD 


162 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


boat  and  120  feet  on  the  tail  sluice  and  tail  scow.  The  tail  scow  or 
sluice  boat  is  equipped  with  an  undercurrent  and  gold-saving  tables  of 
large  capacity  for  the  purpose  of  saving  fine  gold.  The  general  gold- 
saving  arrangement  was  installed  for  the  purpose  of  saving  nugget  gold, 
and  is  said  by  the  manager  to  be  very  efficient. 

The  spuds  are  28  inches  by  48  inches,  50  feet  long,  and  consist  of 
one  wooden  and  one  steel  spud.    The  steel  spud  weighs  20  tons,  manga- 


No.  130.     Fart  of  main  sluice  and  undercurrent,  showing  gold-saving  tables  on  tail  scow  of 
the   Butte   Creek   Consolidated  Dredging   Company's  dredge. 

nese  steel  being  used  in  places  where  the  greatest  wear  comes.  The 
electric  motor  equipment  has  a  rated  capacity  of  375-horsepower.  dis- 
tribuied  as  follows :  Bucket-line  drive,  150-horsepower ;  winch  motor, 
85-horsepower ;  sluice  pump  motor,  100-horsepower ;  primary  pump 
motor,  25-horsepower ;  screen  motor,  15-horsepower.  All  motors  are 
direct-connected. 

The  dredge  has  a  capacity  of  100,000  cubic  yards  per  month.     The 
company  employs  an  average  of  about  ten  men. 


7    -^    M  .VN^WS.^^V- 

♦56'''    bf  ,iiJ2ia    ISVifl    1698 

iqo  MI  . 


MAP 


River   District  in    Yuba  and   Plater 
Counties,   California, 


OROVIllE  DREDGING.  LIMITED,  HOLDING  CO. 


Total    holdings - 


DREDGES    DISMANTLED    UP    TO 

Exploration  Co.   No.   1 

Exploration  Co.   No.   2 

Mining  Co.   No.   1 

River  Mining  Co.  No.  2 


DREDGING    DISTRICTS — PLACER    COUNTY.  163 

2.     PLACER  COUNTY. 

There  is  onl^^  one  dredging  company  operating  in  Placer  Connty. 
The  property  of  this  company  is  located  in  Placer  and  Yuba  counties, 
near  the  town  of  Wheatland,  along  the  Bear  River,  which  drains  an 
area  of  about  287  square  miles  between  the  Yuba  and  American  rivers. 
The  headwaters  of  the  Bear  River  do  not  reach  back  to  the  crest  of  the 
range,  so  that  it  seldom  receives  precipitation  under  form  of  lasting 
snow^  It  is  torrential  in  character,  having  no  forested  areas  except  in 
its  upper  portion.  At  the  head  of  Bear  River  ancient  gravel  deposits 
are  found. 

Bear  River  Mining  Company  began  operations  in  1901,  and  at  the 
present  time  has  an  operating  plant  consisting  of  one  dredge.  The 
holdings  of  the  company  comprise  an  area  of  993.10  acres,  located  in 
the  Bear  River  Basin,  5  miles  from  the  town  of  Wheatland,  in  sections 
37  and  30,  township  14  north,  range  6  east,  in  Placer  County,  and  in 
sections  27  and  34,  township  14  north,  range  5  east,  in  Yuba  County. 

Some  of  this  land  had  been  mined  previous  to  dredging,  and  none 
of  it  was  ever  under  cultivation.  The  property  was  originally  owned 
by  R.  D.  Evans,  of  Boston,  and  W.  P.  Hammon,  of  San  Francisco,  who 
organized  the  Bear  River  Exploration  Company,  and  later  the  Bear 
River  Mining  Company,  which  took  over  the  holdings  of  the  first  com- 
pany. 

Bear  River  Exploration  Company. — Active  operations  began  in  1901, 
when  the  Bear  River  Exploration  Company  constructed  two  new  hulls, 
and  bought  the  machinery  of  two  3i/2-cubic-foot  Risdon  steam  dredges 
operating  at  Breckenridge,  Colorado,  and  originally  constructed  for  the 
North  American  Gold  Dredging  Company  in  1897.  This  machinery 
was  mounted  on  the  new  hulls,  and  electric  power  installed ;  but  both 
of  these  dredges  proved  too  light  to  handle  the  heavy  ground,  and  were 
soon  abandoned,  after  doing  little  work.  Shortly  after  this,  the  Bear 
River  Mining  Company  took  over  the  holdings  and  installed  two  new 
Risdon  dredges,  especially  designed  to  dig  this  deposit.  However, 
their  operations  did  not  prove  profitable,  even  after  changing  the 
bucket-line  on  No.  2  dredge  from  5-cubic-foot  open-link,  to  a  3i^- 
cubic-foot  close-connected.  Both  of  these  dredges  were,  therefore,  closed 
down,  and  work  was  discontinued  until  the  consolidation  with  the 
Oroville  Dredging,  Limited. 

Bear  River  No.  2. — The  dredge  now  operating  was  constructed  under 
the  present  holding  company,  and  is  known  as  Bear  River  No.  2  dredge. 
It  is  a  close-connected-bucket  elevator  dredge  of  the  Yuba  Construc- 
tion Company  make.  e(|uippod  with  7-cubic-foot  buclvcts  and  heavy 
machinery.    It  was  commissioned  October  1,  1907.  and  during  the  first 


■i.W^ 


J    .,,13  issS  Jo  qsM     .lei   .oM 


i 

.        3|C 


DREDGING    DISTRICTS — PLACER    COUNTY.  163 

2.     PLACER  COUNTY. 

There  is  onl^^  one  dredging  company  operating  in  Placer -Xounty. 
The  property  of  this  company  is  located  in  Placer  and  Yuba  counties, 
near  the  town  of  Wheatland,  along  the  Bear  River,  which  drains  an 
area  of  about  287  square  miles  between  the  Yuba  and  American  rivers. 
The  headwaters  of  the  Bear  River  do  not  reach  back  to  the  crest  of  the 
range,  so  that  it  seldom  receives  precipitation  under  form  of  lasting 
snow.  It  is  torrential  in  character,  having  no  forested  areas  except  in 
its  upper  portion.  At  the  head  of  Bear  River  ancient  gravel  deposits 
are  found. 

Bear  Elver  Mining  Company  began  operations  in  1901.  and  at  the 
present  time  has  an  operating  plant  consisting  of  one  dredge.  The 
holdings  of  the  company  comprise  an  area  of  993.10  acres,  located  in 
the  Bear  River  Basin,  5  miles  from  the  town  of  Wheatland,  in  sections 
37  and  30,  township  14  north,  range  6  east,  in  Placer  County,  and  in 
sections  27  and  34,  township  14  north,  range  5  east,  in  Yuba  County. 

Some  of  this  land  had  been  mined  previous  to  dredging,  and  none 
of  it  was  ever  under  cultivation.  The  property  was  originally  owned 
by  R.  D.  Evans,  of  Boston,  and  W.  P.  Hammon,  of  San  Francisco,  who 
organized  the  Bear  River  Exploration  Company,  and  later  the  Bear 
River  Mining  Company,  which  took  over  the  holdings  of  the  first  com- 
pany. 

Bear  River  Exploration  Company. — Active  operations  began  in  1901, 
when  the  Bear  River  Exploration  Company  constructed  two  new  hulls, 
and  bought  the  machinery  of  two  3i2-cubic-foot  Risdon  steam  dredges 
operating  at  Breckenridge,  Colorado,  and  originally  constructed  for  the 
North  American  Gold  Dredging  Company  in  1897.  This  machinery 
was  mounted  on  the  new  hulls,  and  electric  power  installed ;  but  both 
of  these  dredges  proved  too  light  to  handle  the  heavy  ground,  and  were 
soon  abandoned,  after  doing  little  work.  Shortl}"  after  this,  the  Bear 
River  Mining  Company  took  over  the  holdings  and  installed  two  new 
Risdon  dredges,  especially  designed  to  dig  this  deposit.  However, 
their  operations  did  not  prove  profitable,  even  after  changing  the 
bucket-line  on  No.  2  dredge  from  5-cubic-foot  open-link,  to  a  31/.- 
cubic-foot  close-connected.  Both  of  these  dredges  were,  therefore,  closed 
down,  and  work  was  discontinued  until  the  consolidation  with  the 
Oroville  Dredging,  Limited. 

Bear  Fiver  No.  2. — The  dredge  now  operating  was  constructed  under 
the  present  holding  company,  and  is  known  as  Bear  River  No.  2  dredge. 
It  is  a  close-eonnected-bucket  elevator  dredge  of  the  Yuba  Construc- 
tion Company  make,  equipped  with  7-cubic-f()ot  buckets  and  lieavy 
machinery.    It  was  commissioned  October  1,  1907.  and  during  the  first 


164 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


ten  months  iu  operation  handled  645,095  cubic  yards  of  gravel,  and 
turned  over  12.05  acres  of  ground,  at  an  average  cost  of  5.41  cents  per 
cubic  yard,  while  digging  to  an  average  depth  of  33.2  feet. 

The  property  was  well  prospected  by  means  of  drills,  many  lines  of 
holes  being  put  down  at  frequent  and  regular  intervals  across  the 
channel.  The  average  depth  to  bedrock  is  about  40  feet.  The  gravel 
averages  about  7  cents  per  cubic  yard.  It  is,  in  places,  very  heavy  and 
compact,  carrying  considerable  clay  and  mud.  The  bedrock  is  much 
the  same  as  that  in  the  Oroville  district. 

The  company  employs  an  average  of  fourteen  men. 


3.    YUBA  COUNTY. 

Yuba  County,  comprising  an  area  of  625  square  miles,  or  400,000 
acres,  with  a  population  of  about  13,500  inhabitants,  lies  in  the  northern 
half  of  the  State,  and  is  bounded  on  the  east  and  south  by  Sierra  and 
Nevada  counties,  on  the  west  by  Sutter,  and  on  the  north  by  Butte 
County.  Marysville,  the  county  seat,  has  a  population  of  about  7.000 
people,  and  is  located  at  the  junction  of  the  Yuba  and  Feather  rivers,  a 
distance  of  about  123  miles  northeast  of  San  Francisco.  It  is  well 
supplied  with  transportation  facilities,  being  on  the  main  line  of  the 
Southern  Pacific,  Western  Pacific,  and  Northern  Electric  railroads,  and 
it  is  also  well  represented  by  manufacturing  establishments,  one  of  the 
principal  of  these  being  the  Yuba  Construction  Company.  In  the 
mountainous  part  of  the  county  mining,  lumbering,  and  stock  raising 
are  carried  on,  while  in  the  valley  and  foothill  portion  gold  dredging, 
farming,  and  fruit  raising  are  the  principal  industries,  the  largest  hop 
fields  in  the  West  being  located  at  Wheatland.  The  Yuba  River,  which 
passes  through  the  central  part  of  the  county,  affords  an  ample  supply 
of  water  for  irrigation  projects  and  power  plants. 

In  1908  Yuba  County  had  450  miles  of  public  roads,  44.22  miles  of 
steam  railroad,  13.05  miles  of  electric  railroad,  one  electric  power  plant, 
65  miles  of  telegraph  lines,  2,500  miles  of  telephone  lines,  100  miles  of 
irrigation  ditches,  and  6,000  acres  of  land  under  irrigation. 

The  following  table  shows  the  principal  production  of  Yuba  County 
from  1900  to  1908 : 


Substances. 

1900. 

1901. 

1902. 

1903. 

1904. 

Brick   

Clay  

Gold   

Macadam 

Mineral  water  

Silver 

$281^366 
'4;625 

$18a908 
""§46 

$155;630 
2 

$125"830 
""11 

$3,000 

750 

139,528 

Unapportioned  

Totals  

$284,631 

$189,754 

$155,632 

$125,871 

$143,278 

DREDGING   DISTRICTS — YUBA   COUNTY. 


165 


Substances. 

190.5. 

1906 

1907. 

1908.       jorRnd  Total. 

i 

Brick    

Clav   

""m 

324,135 

"loo 

369 



'.'.'.'.'.'.  ,  $1,766,770 

"$805 '        '""720 
6.187 

$10,000          

Gold   

Macadam 

Mineral  water 

2,034,486 
5.750 

'9;997 

Silver 

Unapportioned     .           

S5"6'5"004 

Totals  

$325,384 

$800    $1,773,677 

$2,060,233    $5,624,.304 

Since  the  commencement  of  gold  dredging  operations  in  1904,  at 
Hammonton  and  Marigold,  on  the  Yuba  River,  the  gold  output  of  the 
county  has  steadily  increased  until  Yuba  is  now  one  of  the  most  impor- 
tant gold  producing  counties  in  the  State. 

Gold  production  from  dredging  operations  in  Yuba  County  from 
August,  1901.  to  December  31.  1908 : 


Amount.        Increase.     No.  Dredges. 


1904 

$74,263 

188.967 

1.205.165 

1,688,032 

1,969,079 

$74,263 
114,704 
1,016,098    j 
482,867 
281.047 

2 

1905 - 

8 

1906 

10 

1907 

12 

1908 .-    --                     -             -        -      - 

14 

In  1901  there  was  one  company  operating  two  dredges  during  the 
months  of  August  to  December,  in  1905  there  were  eight  dredges  in 
operation  during  part  of  the  year,  and  in  1906  there  were  two  dredging 
companies  operating  part  of  the  j'ear,  the  Marysville  Dredging  Com- 
pany with  2  and  the  Yuba  Consolidated  Gold  Fields  with  8  dredges. 
During  1907,  12  dredges  operated  practically  the  entire  year,  and 
during  1908  there  were  14  dredges  in  operation  part  of  the  year. 

In  1909  the  Marysville  Dredging  Company  constructed  and  put  in 
operation  one  dredge  and  dismantled  another,  so  that  there  were  the 
same  number  of  dredges  in  active  operation  as  in  1908. 

The  following  table  shows  the  companies,  their  holdings,  and  the 
number  of  dredges  in  the  field  in  1910 : 


Company. 


Dredg- 
ing 
Ground, 
Acres. 


Work-  Dredges 
Vorii  Disman- 
^"S-     i     tied.    I 


Total. 


Yuba  Consolidated  Gold  Fields 3.000 

Marysville  Dredging  Company.. 600 


12 
8 


Totals 


3.600 


Dredging  in  the  Yuba  River  district  began  in  1904  when  W.  P. 
Hammon  of  San  Francisco  and  the  late  R.  D.  Evans  of  Boston,  Mass., 


164 

ten  iiK 
turned 
cubic  2 

The 
holes 
chann( 
averag 
conipa 
the  sai 

The 


Tub 
acres, 
half  o: 
Nevad 
Count; 
people 
distan 
suppli 
South( 
it  is  aj 
princi 
mount 
are  ca 
farmii 
fields 
passes 
of  wai 

In  : 
steam 
65  mi] 
irrigai 

The 
from 


■'■'•V..,, 


tt^" 


>'y 


'W 


M.^ 


Brick 

Clay  - 

Gold  - 

Macadi 

Minera 

Silver 

Unappi 


Tol 


DREDGING   DISTRICTS — YUBA   COUNTY. 


165 


Substances. 

1905. 

1906         I        1907. 

1908.        Grand  Total. 

Brick    

Clav                     

'"$80 
324,135 

'"800 
369 

"S.V.  ^  $1,766,770 

"$805|        '"720 
6,187 

1 
$10,000          

Gold   

Macadam 

Mineral  water                      -  -- 

2,0'34.486 
5.750 

"9';997 

Silver  

Unapportioned              

$5'65,004 

Totals  

$325,384 

$800    $1,773,677 

$2,060,233 

$5,624,304 

Since  the  commencement  of  gold  dredging  operations  in  1904,  at 
Hammonton  and  Marigold,  on  the  Yuba  River,  the  gold  output  of  the 
county  has  steadily  increased  until  Yuba  is  now  one  of  the  most  impor- 
tant gold  producing  counties  in  the  State. 

Gold  production  from  dredging  operations  in  Yuba  County  from 
August,  1904.  to  December  31.  1908  : 


Year. 


Amount. 


Increase.     No.  Dredges. 


1904        

$74,263 

188.967 

1.205.165 

1.688,032 

1.969,079 

$74,263 
114.704 
1,016,098 
482.867 
281,047 

2 

1905    -                                     

8 

1906                                                       

10 

1907 

12 

1908 

14 

In  1904  there  was  one  company  operating  two  dredges  during  the 
months  of  August  to  December,  in  1905  there  were  eight  dredge.s  in 
operation  during  part  of  the  year,  and  in  1906  there  were  two  dredging 
companies  operating  part  of  the  year,  the  Marysville  Dredging  Com- 
pany with  2  and  the  Yuba  Consolidated  Gold  Fields  with  8  dredges. 
During  1907,  12  dredges  operated  practically  the  entire  year,  and 
during  1908  there  were  14  dredges  in  operation  part  of  the  3'ear. 

In  1909  the  Marysville  Dredging  Company  constructed  and  put  in 
operation  one  dredge  and  dismantled  another,  so  that  there  were  the 
same  number  of  dredges  in  active  operation  as  in  1908. 

The  following  table  shows  the  companies,  their  holdings,  and  the 
number  of  dredges  in  the  field  in  1910 : 


Company. 


ing  Work-    ni?mfn 

Ground.,     ing.     ,  ^S"" 
Acres.  "®°- 


Total. 


Yuba  Consolidated  Gold  Fields 3.000 

Marysville  Dredging  Company 600 


... 

12 
3 

1 

15 

Totals   ;    3.600 


Dredging  in  the  Yuba  River  district  began  in  1904  when  W.  P. 
Hammon  of  San  Francisco  and  the  late  R.  D.  Evans  of  Boston.  Mass., 


166 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA, 


■''^r 


commenced  operations  in  August  of  that 
year  with  two  California  type  dredges, 
the  Yuba  No.  1  and  No.  2. 

Previous  to  the  building  of  these 
dredges  INIessrs.  Hammon  and  Evans 
spent  about  two  years  in  examining  and 
acquiring  the  ground  located  in  and 
adjacent  to  the  Yuba  Basin.  During 
this  time  about  300  test  holes  were  sunk 
with  drills,  to  depths  of  from  60  to  70 
feet  and  nearly  $100,000  was  expended 
in  the  work.  The  ground  prospected 
extended  over  an  area  nearl}^  five  miles 
long  with  an  average  "width  of  about  one 
mile.  The  widest  part  of  the  property 
is  located  about  four  miles  from  where 
the  Yuba  River  leaves  a  narrow  canyon 
in  breaking  from  the  foothills  of  the 
Sierra  Nevada,  and  spreads  over  a  wide 
flat  area  about  two  miles  across,  known 
as  the  Yuba  Basin. 

The  depth  of  the  ground  is  due  to  the 
extensive  hydraulic  mining  operations 
which  for  years  were  carried  on  along 
the  headwaters  and  tributary  streams  of 
Yuba  River.  It  is  estimated  that  aside 
from  the  natural  sedimentation  due  to 
erosion,  that  nearly  half  a  billion  cubic 
yards  of  hydraulic  tailings  have  been 
carried  down  yearly  by  the  flood  waters 
and  deposited  in  the  river  valley.  The 
hydraulic  tailings  in  the  Yuba  Basin 
range  in  depth  from  10  feet  to  40  feet 
and  overlie  the  old  gold-bearing  river 
gravel.  These  tailings  carry  some  gold, 
Init  not  enough  to  pay  for  working. 

The  old  river  gravel  underlying  the 
hydraulic  tailings  rests  on  a  volcanic  ash 
bedrock,  similar  in  character  to  that  of 
the  Oroville  district.  In  some  places 
drill  holes  showed  gravel  and  some  gold 
below  this  bedrock,  90  feet  and  110  feet 
from  the  surface,  but  usually  the  vol- 
canic ash  lies  on  the  true  bedrock. 


DREDGING   DISTRICTS — YUBA    COUNTY. 


167 


The  gold  sometimes 
forms  several  pay-streaks 
in  the  old  river  gravel 
but  is  seldom  found  to 
extend  to  the  volcanic  ash 
bedrock.  The  ground 
yields  from  10  cents  to  30 
cents  per  cubic  yard  from 
top  to  bottom.  In  dredg- 
ing part  of  the  bedrock, 
which  is  soft  and  sticky 
like  the  false  bedrock  in 
other  districts,  is  usually 
dug.  The  natural  water 
level  ranges  from  several 
feet  above  to  about  four 
feet  l)elow  the  surface  of 
the  ground. 

The  Yuba  No.  1  and 
No.  2  dredges  which  were 
installed  for  W.  P.  Ilam- 
mon  and  R.  D.  Evans 
were  designed  and  con- 
structed by  the  Bucyrus 
and  Western  Engineering 
and  Construction  com- 
panies. They  were  the 
first  dredges  of  their  kind 
to  be  built  to  dig  60  feet 
below  the  water-line,  and 
many  new  features  and 
improvements  were 
brought  out  in  the  con- 
struction of  the  hulls  and 
mechanical  equipment. 

In  1905  the  Yuba  Con- 
solidated Gold  Fields  was 
organized  to  take  over  the 
holdings  acquired  by 
W.  P.  Ilammon  and  R.  1). 
Evans.  This  company- 
was  incorporated  under 
the  laws  of  the  State  of 
Maine,  with  a  capitaliza- 


168  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA, 

tion  of  $12,500,000.  The  officers  are:  President,  Geo.  L,  Huntress; 
secretary  and  treasurer,  K.  E.  Paine,  50  Congress  street,  Boston,  Mass. ; 
managing  director,  W.  P.  Hammon ;  general  manager,  Newton  Cleave- 
land,  Marysville,  Cal. ;  superintendent  Geo.  J.  Carr,  Hammonton,  Cal. 
The  holdings  of  the  companj^  comprise  an  area  of  3,000  acres.    See  map. 

All  of  the  12  dredges  operated  by  the  companj^  are  of  the  California 
type.  The  Yuba  No.  1  and  No.  2  dredges  have  a  bucket  capacity  of 
6  cubic  feet,  and  are  equipped  with  shaking  screens,  while  all  the  others 
are  equipped  with  7i/^-cubic-foot  buckets  and  revolving  screens.  The 
tailing  stackers  on  the  Yuba  dredges  are  unusually  long,  owing  to  the 
depth  of  the  ground  being  dredged. 

Yuba  No.  3  and  No.  4  dredges,  which  were  designed  by  the  Boston 
Llachine  Shop  Company  and  the  Bucyrus  Company,  w^ere  installed  early 
in  1905  and  Yuba  No.  5  and  No.  6  late  in  1905.  These  dredges  were 
constructed  by  the  Yuba  Gold  Fields,  most  of  the  orders  for  the  excavat- 
ing machinery  being  placed  with  the  Bucyrus  Company.  The  bucket 
lines  of  No.  5  and  No.  6  were  furnished  by  the  Taylor  Iron  and  Steel 
Company.  Yuba  No.  7  and  No.  8  dredges  were  commissioned  in  1906, 
and  were  equipped  originally  with  Marion  machinery.  Yuba  No.  9  and 
No.  10  were  commissioned  in  1907  and  Yuba  No.  11  and  No.  12  in 
1908.  Yuba  No.  13,  a  13i/2-foot  dredge,  is  under  construction.  These 
dredges  were  designed  and  constructed  by  the  Yuba  Construction  Com- 
pany.   The  following  is  a  general  description  of  one  of  the  latest  dredges  : 

Tuha  No.  11  Dredge. — Digging  depth  below  w-ater  line,  65  feet. 

Size  of  Hull. — Length  over  all,  130  feet ;  width  on  w^ater  line,  46  feet ; 
width  of  housing,  56  feet;  depth,  9%  feet;  draught,  6I/2  to  7  feet. 
Total  lumber  in  hull,  about  375,000  board  feet. 

Mechanical  Equipment. — Length  of  digging  ladder,  118  feet ;  capac- 
ity of  buckets,  each  TY2  feet;  weight  of  buckets,  each  2,000  pounds; 
buckets  dumping  per  minute,  18 ;  total  buckets  in  line,  96 ;  length  of 
tailing  stacker,  132  feet;  width  of  stacker  belt,  32  inches;  revolving 
screen,  width  6  feet,  length,  36  feet ;  spuds,  24  by  36  inches  by  55  feet ; 
total  weight  of  machinery,  875,000  pounds;  total  weight  of  dredge, 
2,000,000  pounds.  The  spuds  are  constructed  of  %-inch  side  and  web 
plates  and  yg-i^^ch  cover  plates  and  angle  iron  joints ;  upper  and  lower 
tumblers  are  hexagonal.     The  digging  ladder  is  truss  girder  design. 

Yuba  No.  11  dredge  has  a  rated  motor  capacity  of  405  horsepower 
and  an  average  motor  output  of  315  horsepower.  Transformer  capacity 
375  kilowatts  and  the  transformer  output  262  kilowatts.  The  electric 
current  is  brought  over  the  primary  line  to  dredge  at  4,000  volts  and 
stepped  down  to  440  volts  for  all  motors.  The  motor  equipment  aboard 
the  dredge  is  distributed  as  follows : 

Bucket  drive  motor,  200-horsepower ;  G.  E. ;  400  volt;  600  revolutions 
per  minute :  average  output.  137  kilowatts ;  148-horsepower.  Winch 
motor,   25-horsepower ;   G.   E. ;  V.   S.;  440  volt;   600  revolutions  per 


170 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


minute :  average  output,  13  kilowatts ;  17.4-horsepower ;  while  hoisting 
steel  spud,  15.8  kilowatts;  21-horsepower.  Revolving  screen,  25-horse- 
power ;  G.  E. ;  C.  S. ;  440  volt ;  600  revolutions  per  minute ;  average  out- 
put, 16  kilowatts ;  24-horsepower.  Tailing  stacker,  35-horsepower ; 
G.  E. ;  C.  S. ;  440  volt ;  600  revolutions  per  minute :  average  output,  16 
kilowatts ;  24-horsepower. 

Pump  motors:  Ten-inch  high  pressure  pump,  75-horsepower ;  G.  E.; 
C.  S. ;  440  volt;  720  revolutions  per  minute:  average  output,  55  kilo- 
watts ;  73.5-horsepower. 

Ten-inch  low  pressure  pump,  35-horsepower ;  G.  E. ;  C.  S. ;  440  volt ; 

600  revolutions  per  minute:  av- 
erage output.  8  kilowatts;  10.7- 
horsepower. 

Four-inch  primary  pumps,  10- 
horsepower;  G.  E. ;  C.  S. ;  440 
volt ;  1,200  revolutions  per  min- 
ute :  average  output,  5.2  kilo- 
watts ;  7-horsepower. 

The  electric  transmission  line 
from  the  Bay  Counties  Power 
Company  meter  pole  is  of  No.  4 
copper  wire  450  feet  long  and 
the  shore  cable  to  dredge  is  3 
conductor  No.  4  copper  600  feet 
long. 

The  dredges  on  the  Yuba 
River  are  cooperating  in  their 
work  with  the  Debris  Commis- 
sion in  building  retaining  dams 
to  control  and  confine  the  flow  of 
the  Yuba  River  in  the  vicinity 
of  Da  Guerre  Point.  This  work  is  being  done  for  the  United  States  and 
the  State  of  California. 

Hammonton,  named  after  W.  B.  Hammon,  is  a  settlement  established 
by  the  company  on  the  south  side  of  the  Yuba  River  nearly  opposite 
Da  Guerre  Point  on  the  north  side.  It  has  over  700  inhabitants  and 
many  handsome  small  buildings  occupied  by  the  dredging  population, 
and  some  of  the  company's  offices  and  repair  shops  are  located  here. 
A  well  appointed  schoolhouse,  a  general  store,  etc.,  water  towers  for 
furnishing  water  for  domestic  purposes  and  fire  protection,  good  gravel 
metaled  streets,  plenty  of  shade  trees  and  a  regular  mail  service,  etc., 
all  go  to  make  this  an  attractive  little  town. 

The  Marysville  Dredging  Company  began  operations  in  1905  under 
the  direction  of  R.  E.  Cranston.  Sacramento.  Cal.  The  officers  of  the 
company   are:    Directors.    P.    Lothrop,    president;    Q.    A.    Shaw,    vice- 


Mkj^^^^y^^^^^v  v^^'*- 

1 

\ 

HHb^^ 

i 

i 

136.      Idler    for    taking    up    slack    in 
line    used   by    Yuba    Gold    Fields. 


DREDGING    DISTRICTS — YUBA    COUNTY. 


171 


172 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


president ;  Alexander  Agassiz ;  T.  L.  Livermore ;  H.  L.  Higginsou ;  R.  L. 
Agassiz,  treasurer,  14  Ashburton  Place,  Boston,  Mass. ;  A.  D.  Snod- 
grass,  cashier ;  A.  B.  Strode,  superintendent,  Marigold,  Cal. ;  Bukeley 
Wells,  general  manager,  Marysville,  Cal. 

The  holdings  of  the  company  adjoin  those  of  the  Yuba  Consolidated 
Gold  Fields  on  the  west  and  comprise  an  area  of  about  1,200  acres 
located  in  section  36,  township  16  north,  range  4  east,  and  sections  1 
and  2,  township  15  north,  range  4  east  along  the  Yuba  River,  about  6 
miles  northeast  of  Marysville.  Of  the  total  acreage  about  600  acres 
are  dredging  ground,  averaging  in  depth  about  60  feet.  The  gravel  and 
bedrock  is  the  same  in  character  as  that  of  the  Yuba  Consolidated  Gold 


No.   138.      Yuba  Construction   Company,   Marysville,   Cal. 

1.  Machine  shops,  reinforced  concrete,  100  by  250.  2.  Forge  shop,  steel  frame,  100  by  100: 
structural  shop,  100  by  150,  equipped  with  all  modern  tools,  specially  selected  for  dredge 
construction.     3.   Powerhouse.     4.   Storehouses. 

Fields.  This  company  is  also  cooperating  with  the  Debris  Commission 
in  their  work. 

In  1906  the  company  installed  two  California  type  dredges  of  714- 
cubic-foot  capacity,  the  Marigold  No.  1  and  No.  2.  These  dredges  were 
designed  by  the  engineers  of  the  Yuba  Construction  Companj^,  and  a 
large  portion  of  the  machinery  came  from  the  INIarion  Steam  Shovel 
Company. 

In  1909  the  company  dismantled  the  Marigold  No.  2  dredge  and  in 
August  of  that  year  installed  a  new  California  type  dredge,  the  ]\Iari- 
gold  No.  3.  This  dredge  was  designed  and  constructed  by  the  company's 
engineer,  L.  Ettrup,  the  machinery  orders  being  given  to  different 
manufacturers,  principally  the  Union  Iron  Works. 

On  the  property  of  the  Marysville  Dredging  Company  a  small  settle- 
ment, known  as  Marigold,  was  established  by  the  company.  It  com- 
prises many  buildings,  occupied  by  the  dredging  population,  and 
company  offices  and  repair  shops. 

As  a  direct  outgrowth  of  the  interests  of  the  gold  dredging  industry. 
there  has  been  established  at  INIarysville,  Cal.,  in  the  center  of  the  gold 


DREDGING    DISTRICTS YUBA    COUNTY. 


173 


174 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


dredging  fields,  a  large  machine,  structural  and  forge  shop,  known  as 
the  "Yuba  Construction  Company." 

This  company  was  incorporated  in  1905,  with  a  capital  stock  of 
$200,000,  and  has  the  following  officers:  W.  P.  Hammon,  president; 
Newton  Cleaveland,  vice-president  and  general  manager;  A.  E.  Boynton, 
secretary,  Alaska  Commercial  building,  San  Francisco;  E.  P.  Jones, 
superintendent,  Marysville.  Cal. 

Since  this  shop  was  organized  the  investment  has  been  increased  from 
$200,000  to  about  $500,000.  The  shop  is  especially  equipped  to  take 
care  of  gold  dredging  work,  and  is  rapidly  becoming  one  of  the  largest 
on  the  coast.    The  tools  and  machinery  are  of  the  heaviest  construction. 


mmimBmim 


No.   140.     Yuba   Construction   Company,   Marysville,   Cal.     Shipping  yard,   connection  with 
Southern    Pacific,    Western    Pacific,    and    Northern    Electric    Railways. 

This  company  has  designed  and  built  nineteen  of  the  most  successful 
dredges  operating  in  California,  and  at  the  present  time  is  building 
dredges,  not  only  in  California,  but  in  Alaska  and  several  of  the  West- 
ern states. 

The  accompanying  illustrations  will  give  the  reader  some  idea  of  the 
extent  of  the  shops,  and  these  are  situated  on  the  main  lines  of  the 
Southern  Pacific,  Western  Pacific,  and  the  Northern  Electric  railroads. 


4.     SACRAMENTO  COUNTY. 

Sacramento  County,  comprising  an  area  of  987.66  square  miles  or 
632,108  acres,  is  one  of  the  largest  counties  in  the  Sacramento  Valley. 
It  was  organized  by  the  first  legislature,  and  holds  within  its  bound- 
aries Sacramento  City,  the  capital  of  California  and  the  county  seat 
of  Sacramento  County,  situated  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Sacramento 
River,  and  90  miles  by  rail  from  San  Francisco.  In  1909  Sacramento 
City  had  55,000  inhabitants  out  of  a  total  population  of  70,000  for  the 
entire  county.     The  total  assessed  valuation  of  all  property  amounted 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — SACRAMENTO  COUNTV. 


175 


176 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


to  $57,679,076.  The  total  number  of  acres  under  cultivation  amonn+cd 
to  about  370,000  acres,  leaving  262,108  acres  not  under  cu  ..tion. 
There  are  no  mountains  in  Sacramento  County,  the  ground  rising 
gradually  from  an  altitude  of  30  feet  to  the  low  rolling  f'  ji-iills  of 
the  Sierra  Nevada  Mountains,  which,  at  the  extreme  eastern  part  of 
the  county,  attain  an  altitude  of  about  580  feet  above  sea  level. 

In  1908  the  production  of  gold  from  the  various  mines  in  Sacramento 
County  amounted  to  $1,166,055.  Of  this  $409  came  from  hydraulic 
mines,  $52,365  from  drift  mines,  $3,925  from  surface  placers,  and 
$1,109,196  from  dredging  operations. 


No.    142.     American  River  from  Fair  Oaks  bridge,   Sacramento  County. 


The  following  table  shows  the  number  of  dredges  and  dredging;  com- 
panies operating  in  Sacramento  County,  as  well  as  the  number  of 
dredges  put  in  operation  or  dismantled  during  1908 : 


Company. 


Working. 


Put  in  Dis- 

Commis-  ■  mantled 
sion  Dur-  During 
ing  Year.  ■      Year. 


Ashburton  Mining  Co 

Folsom  Development  Co 

El  Dorado  Gold  Dredging  Co. 
Natomas  Development  Co 

Totals  


The  total  known  dredgeable  area  in  Sacramento  County  in  1908, 
including  that  which  has  been  dredged,  comprised  6,052.66  acres.  The 
following  table  gives  a  comparison  of  the  area  and  character  of  the 
dredgeable  and  other  lands  in  Sacramento  County  in  1909 : 


Character  of  Lands. 

Under  cultivation  

Not  cultivated 

Totals  


other 
Lands, 
Acres. 


Dredging 
Lands, 
Acres. 


370,000 
262,108 


2,365 
3,687.66 


632.108         6,052.66 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — SACRAMENTO  COUNTY. 


177 


f-t^ 


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A-^X    'itj^V»\i>\<^ 


C 


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DREDGING  DISTRICTS — SACRAMENTO  COUNTY. 


177 


All  dredge  mining  in  Sacramento  County  is  carried  on  along  the 
American  River  in  what  is  known  as  the  American  River  or  Folsom 
district.  This  district  includes  in  its  boundaries  a  part  of  the  town  of 
Folsom,  and  extends  9  miles  from  Folsom  to  Cornell,  a  place  on  the 
Sacramento  and  Placerville  Railroad,  11  miles  by  rail  from  Sacramento 
City. 

The  total  area  of  the  district  comprises  12,522.58  acres,  of  which 
about  6.052.66  acres  have  so  far  been  proven  dredgeable.  All  of  this 
land,  with  the  exception  of  1,326  acres  on  the  Sacramento,  Sailor,  and 
Mississippi  bars,  is  located  on  the  south  side  of  the  American  River, 
extending  in  places  2i/2  miles  inland.  All  of  the  land  in  the  district, 
with  the  exception  of  -431  acres,  is  owned  by  the  Natomas  Consolidated 
of  California,  the  larger  of  the  two  companies  now  operating  in  the 
field. 

The  production  of  gold  from  dredging  operations  in  the  American 
River  district  from  1899  to  December  31,  1908,  amounted  to  $3,920,231, 
as  shown  by  the  following  table : 


Year. 

Gross 
Value. 

Increase. 

Decrease 

Year. 

Gross 
Value. 

Increase. 

Decrease. 

1899 

1900 

"$17,200 

47.619 

15.5,194 

102,097 

""$30,'4Y9" 
107,575 

'$53'097 

1904 

1905 

1906 

1907 

1908 

$348,990 
569,124 
921..300 
649,511 

1,109,196 

$246,893  1   

220,134 

1901  - 

352,176 

1902 

1903 

1    $271,789 

459,685 

The  decrease  in  1903,  as  compared  with  1902,  was  partly  due  to  two 
dredges  being  put  out  of  commi.ssion — the  Ashburton  No.  1,  which  was 
destroyed  by  fire  while  operating  on  Sailor  Bar  on  ]May  25 ;  and  Pacific 
No.  1,  which  was  closed  down  during  the  year  while  operating  on  Missis- 
sippi Bar. 

The  decrease  in  yield  in  1907,  as  compared  with  1906,  was  partly  due 
to  three  dredges  going  out  of  commission  and  to  severe  storms  and  floods 
in  1907  which  damaged  and  delayed  operations  of  others. 

The  increase  in  yield  in  1908  was  mainly  due  to  four  new  dredges 
being  put  in  commission  during  that  year.  They  were  the  Natoma 
No.  1,  No.  2,  No.  3,  and  Folsom  No.  6,  all  large  modern  boats. 

Table  Showing  Numerical  Strength  of  Gold  Dredges  In  Sacramento  County  at  the 

End  of  the  Year  1909. 


Company. 

Working. 

Idle. 

Con- 
structing. 

Total. 

Natoinas  Con.solidated  of  California 

Ashburton  Mining  Company.. 

7                  1 
1 

1                   9 
1 

Totals  

8                  1 

1                 in 

12— GD 


176 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


-*■.„ 


\\ 


I 


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^^ 


A-^ 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — SACRAMENTO  COUNTV. 


177 


All  dredge  mining  in  Sacramento  County  is  carried  on  along  the 
American  River  in  Avhat  is  known  as  the  American  River  or  Folsom 
district.  This  district  includes  in  its  boundaries  a  part  of  the  town  of 
Folsom,  and  extends  9  miles  from  Folsom  to  Cornell,  a  place  on  the 
Sacramento  and  Placerville  Railroad.  11  miles  by  rail  from  Sacramento 
City. 

The  total  area  of  the  district  comprises  12,522.58  acres,  of  which 
about  6.052.66  acres  have  so  far  been  proven  dredgeable.  All  of  this 
land,  with  the  exception  of  1,326  acres  on  the  Sacramento,  Sailor,  and 
Mississippi  bars,  is  located  on  the  south  side  of  the  American  River, 
extending  in  places  210  miles  inland.  All  of  the  land  in  the  district, 
with  the  exception  of  431  acres,  is  owned  by  the  Natomas  Consolidated 
of  California,  the  larger  of  the  two  companies  now  operating  in  the 
field. 

The  production  of  gold  from  dredging  operations  in  the  American 
River  district  from  1899  to  December  31,  1908,  amounted  to  $3,920,231, 
as  shown  bv  the  following  table : 


^'^«''-              V^aTul.       Increase. 

Decrease 

Year. 

Gross 
Value. 

Increase.  ,  Decrease. 

1899 

$17,200 

47,619 

155,194 

102,097 

"iio.Tig" 

107,575 

""'-'-'.I 

1904 

$348,990 
569,124 
921.300 
649,511 

1,109,196 

$246,893 

1900 

1905 

220.134 

1901 . 

1906  .„      .. 

352,176 

1902 

1907 

...      $271,789 

1903 

$53,097!  1908 

459,685 

The  decrease  in  1903.  as  compared  with  1902.  was  partly  due  to  two 
dredges  being  put  out  of  commission — the  Ashburton  Xo.  1,  which  was 
destroyed  by  fire  while  operating  on  Sailor  Bar  on  ]\Iay  25 ;  and  Pacific 
No.  1.  which  Avas  closed  down  during  the  year  while  operating  on  Missis- 
sippi Bar. 

The  decrease  in  yield  in  1907,  as  compared  with  1906,  was  partly  due 
to  three  dredges  going  out  of  commission  and  to  severe  storms  and  floods 
in  1907  which  damaged  and  delayed  operations  of  others. 

The  increase  in  yield  in  1908  was  mainly  due  to  four  new  dredges 
being  put  in  commission  during  that  year.  They  were  the  Natoma 
No.  1.  No.  2.  No.  3,  and  Folsom  No.  6.  all  large  modern  boats. 

Table  Showing  Numerical  Strength  of  Gold  Dredges  In  Sacramento  County  at  the 

End  of  the  Year  1909. 


Company.                                       Working. 

Idle. 

Con- 
structing. 

Total. 

Natomas  Consolidated  of  California 

Ashburton  Mining  Company 

7                 1 
1 

1                  9 
1 

Totals  

8                 1 

1                in 

12— GD 


178  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

AMERICAN  RIVER  DISTRICT  EROM  1899  TO  1909. 

Colorado  Pacific  Gold  Dredging  Companij. — Dredging  in  the  Ameri- 
can River  district  began  in  the  spring  of  1899,  when  the  Colorado  Pacific 
Gold  Dredging  Company,  promoted  by  R.  G.  Hanford,  and  consisting 
principally  of  Colorado  mining  men,  commenced  operations  in  April  of 
that  year  with  one  dredge  on  the  company's  holdings  on  the  north  side 
of  the  river,  on  what  is  known  as  the  Mississippi  Bar. 

Pacific  No.  1  was  an  open-link-bucket  elevator  dredge,  built  by  the 
Risdon  Iron  "Works,  for  a  capacity  of  35,000  cubic  yards  per  month, 
and  equipped  with  Si/o-cubic-foot  buckets.  It  was  the  only  steam 
driven  dredge  in  the  district,  and  Avas  kept  in  operation  for  about  four 
years  until  dismantled  in  1903.    See  page  180. 

Pacific  No.  2. — In  1902,  a  second  dredge,  known  as  Pacific  No.  2.  was 
put  in  operation  on  the  property.  This  dredge  was  of  the  same  make  as 
No.  1,  but  had  5-cubic-foot  buckets,  and  was  electrically  driven,  and  had 
a  rated  capacity  of  60,000  cubic  yards  per  month.  It  was  dismantled 
in  1906  after  about  four  years  of  service. 

AsJihurton  ^lining  Company. — The  second  company  to  commence 
dredging  operations  in  the  district  was  the  Ashburton  Mining  Company, 
also  promoted  bj-  R.  G.  Hanford.  Under  the  direction  of  R.  E.  Cranston 
this  company  began  operations  March  1,  1900,  with  one  dredge,  on  the 
north  side  of  the  river,  on  what  is  known  as  Sailor  Bar.  •  See  page  6. 

Aslihurton  No.  1. — This  dredge  was  of  the  double-lift-open-link-bucket 
elevator  type,  constructed  by  the  Bucyrus  Company,  and  ecjuipped  with 
tail  scow  and  tail  sluices  TV^-c'i-^bic-foot  buckets.  It  worked  about 
four  years  until  destroyed  by  fire  JMay  25,  1903,  when  it  was  recon- 
structed and  operated  until  dismantled  in  1906,  after  working  out  the 
property.    See  page  179. 

Ashburton  No.  2. — In  1908  the  company  coDstructed  a  dredge  of  the 
singie-lift-close-connected-bucket  type  and  installed  it  on  the  company's 
holdings  on  the  south  side  of  the  river.  This  boat,  known  as  Ashburton 
No.  2,  is  still  in  operation,  and  will  probably  complete  the  turning  over 
of  the  company's  holdings  of  205  acres. 

The  gravel  on  this  property  ranges  in  depth  from  12  to  48  feet,  the 
average  being  about  27  feet.  In  places  there  are  many  boulders 
and  a  great  deal  of  clay,  but  the  pay  streak  is  usually  free  from  either. 

Syndicate  Dredging  Company. — The  third  company  to  begin  opera- 
tions in  the  district  was  the  Syndicate  Dredging  Company,  which  in 
1901  put  the  Syndicate  dredge  in  commission.  This  dredge,  constructed 
by  the  Risdon  Iron  Works,  was  of  the  open-link-bucket  elevator  type, 
electrically  driven,  and  equipped  wi'h  5-cublic-foot  buckets.     It  oper- 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — SACRAMENTO  COUNTY. 


179 


a  t  e  d  at  Natoma, 
near  the  middle  of 
the  district,  where 
the  Natoiiui  No.  1  is 
now  Avorking  until 
closed  down  in  the 
spring  of  1906. 
R.  G.  Hanford  was 
the  cliief  stock- 
holder in  this  com- 
pany.    See  p.  182. 

Folsom  Develop- 
ment Company. — 
The  fourth  com- 
pany to  begin 
operations  in  the 
district  w  a  s  the 
Folsom  Develop- 
ment Company, 
which  in  1904 
started  Avork  with 
two  dredges,  the 
Folsom  Xo.  1  and 
No.  2.  Like  the 
preceding  c  o  m  - 
panics,  i  t  w  a  s 
launched  l)y  R.  G. 
Hanford,  the  per- 
sonnel consisting 
mainly  of  the  Ar- 
mours and  other 
Chicago  people. 
The  company  con- 
structed and  put 
in  commission  a  to- 
tal of  six  dredges, 
some  of  which  were 
the  largest  of  their 
kind  at  tha  time  of 
construction,  a  n  d 
also  built  a  large 
machine  shop  and 
erected  the  first 
successful    r  0  e  k  - 


o  E 


^  an 


180 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


crushing  plant  to 
crush  the  dredge 
tailings.  It  was 
the  most  successful 
and  progressive 
company  in  the 
district,  and  was 
absorbed  b  y  t  h  e 
Natomas  Consoli- 
dated at  the  end 
of  1908. 

Fohom  No.  1 
was  put  in  com- 
mission February 
20,  1904,  in  the 
vicinity  of  Rebel 
Hill,  w  here  it 
turned  over  45 
acres  of  ground  of 
an  average  depth 
of  15  feet  and 
handled  2,995,000 
cubic  yards  of 
gravel,  until  dis- 
mantled August 
20,  1908,  after 
four  years  and  six 
and  a  half  months 
in  operation. 

Fohom  Xo.  2 
was  put  in  com- 
mission March  16, 
1904.  This  dredge 
worked  on  the  up- 
per end  of  the  dis- 
trict, from  Dredge 
to  Nigger  Bar, 
where  digging  to 
an  average  depth 
of  17  feet,  it 
turned  over  150 
acres  and  handled 
5,350,000  cubic 
yards  of  gravel.    It 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — SACRAMENTO  COUNTY. 


181 


was  wrecked  by  the  floods  of  January  14,  1909,  after  which  part  of  the 
machinery  was  installed  on  a  dredji'e  in  Colorado. 

Both  of  these  dredges  were  of  the  close-connected-l)ucket  elevator 
type,  with  5i/.-cul)ic-foot  Ijuckets,  and  were  constructed  by  the  Western 
Engineering  and  Construction  Company,  and  equipped  with  Bucyrus 
machinery.    See  pages  183  and  184. 

These  boats,  as  well  as  those  of  the  Colorado  Pacific  Company,  were 
shut  down  owing  to  their  small  capacity  and  to  great  improvements  in 
dredge  construction. 

Folsom  No.  3  was  put  in  commission  January  1,  1905,  and  during  the 
first  four  years  in  operation  turned  over  about  Sli/o  acres  and  handled 


m^t  ■ '«;  jp 


4 


No.   146.     Road  cutting  near  Folsom,  showing  layer  of  volcanic  ash  and  gravel.     See  page   188. 

3,600,000  cubic  yards  of  gravel,  while  digging  to  an  average  depth 
of  about  30  feet.  It  is  of  the  close-connected-bucket  type,  and  was 
originally  equipped  with  80  7-cubic-foot  buckets,  which  were  later 
changed  to  8i/2-cubic-foot.  At  the  time  of  construction  this  was  the 
largest  gold  dredge  known,  and  marked  the  first  step  toward  the  large 
dredge  of  to-day.  ]Most  of  the  machinery  was  designed  and  a  groat 
deal  of  it  constructed  by  the  Folsom  Development  Company.  \\\\o  built 
the  hull  and  installed  the  machinery  themselves. 

This  dredge  was  put  in  commission  on  Willow  Hill,  wliere  it  operated 
intermittently-,  and  not  altogether  satisfactorily,  for  a  little  over  two 
years,  when  it  was  turned  over  to  the  Bucyrus  and  Western  Engineer- 


182 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


ing  and  Construction  companies  for  reconstruction.  It  closed  down 
in  May  and  was  recommissioned  July  28,  1908,  after  practically  all  the 
machinery  had  been  replaced  and  new  parts  installed.  Notably  among 
the   changes  were  the  new   winches  that  were   installed  in  place  of 


the  old  ones,  which  had  given  a  great  deal  of  trouble  and  cause  for 
delays.  A  13-foot  section  was  added  to  the  digging  ladder,  which 
increased  the  digging  depth  about  10  feet,  and  the  number  of  buckets 
from  80  to  87.  The  old  bucket-line  was  discarded  and  replaced  by  87 
new  81/^-cubic-foot  buckets.    The  shaking  screens  and  drive  were  taken 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — SACRAMENTO  COUNTY 


183 


out  and  a  new  revolving  screen  36  feet  long  by  7  feet  diameter,  and 
new  screen  drive  and  screen  casing  added.     A  5-incli  two-step  hopper 


No.   148.     Arrangement  to  prevent  thefts  from  principal  part  of  gold-saving  tables. 

Folsom  District. 

pump,  with  piping  to  furnish  five  sprays  in  the  hopper,  and  two  8-inch 
two-step  monitor  pumps,  with  motors  and  piping,  as  well  as  a  new 
save-all  in  the  well-hole,  were  also  installed. 


No.   149.     Folsom  No.  2  Dredge  in  operation.     Early  Bucyrus  design.     Dismantled. 

See  page    180. 


184 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


The  increased  running  time  and  general  efficiency  of  Folsom  No.  3 
dredge  after  reconstruction  brought  the  yardage  up  from  70,000  cubic 
yards  to  180,000  cubic  3'ards  per  month.  This  dredge  is  in  good  work- 
ing condition  after  five  years  in  operation  up  to  January  1,  1910. 


'"^^'"^T^'^^PP^^H^Hj^^^^^^^H 

1^ 

■i 

c. 

"  '"m  ^   -^g^m^l 

No.    150.      Wreck  of   Folsom   No.   2   Dredge.      See  pages   180  and   183. 

The  electric  motor  equipment  of  the  No.  3  dredge  is  complete  and 

mechanically  in  good  condition.     It  has  a  rated  capacity  of  490-horse- 

power,  distributed  as  follows : 

Bucket  drive  motor 150  h.p 

14-ineh   pump   motor 100  h.p 

7-  and  8-inch  pump  motors 50  h.p 

Monitor  pump  motors,  two  50  h.p 100  h.p 

Screen  motor  30  h.p 

Winch  motor  30  h.p 

5-inch  step  hopper  pump  motor 30  h.p 

Rated  capacity  490  h.p.     Folsom  Xo.  3  dredge. 


v.s. 

345  r.p.m. 

W.H. 

2000  volts 

c.s. 

580  r.p.m. 

W.H. 

2000  volts 

c.s. 

850  r.p.m. 

W.H. 

2000  volts 

c.s. 

850  r.p.m. 

W.H. 

2000  volts 

c.s. 

850  r.p.m. 

W.H. 

400  volts 

v.s. 

850  r.p.m. 

W.H. 

400  volts 

c.s. 

850  r.p.m. 

W.H. 

400  volts 

No.   151. 


Folsom   No.  3   Dredge,   showing  8i-cubic-foot   close-connected  buckets  and   ladder 
construction. 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS SACRAMENTO  COUNTV. 


185 


The  average  power  consumed  while  in  full  operation  is  401.5  horse- 
power, or  299.4  kilowatt.    The  monitor  pumps  are  not  in  use. 

The  close  relation  of  the  individual  parts  to  the  efficiency  of  the  whole 
is  clearly  shown  in  the  reconstruction  of  this  dredge. 

FoJsom  Xo.  i  l)egan  operations  November  15.  1905.  This  dredge  is 
of  the   close-connected-bucket   elevator   type,    and    equipped   with    68 


No.   152.     Splicing  additional  section  in  digging  ladder  of  Folsom   No.  3  Dredge  to  increase 
digging  depth.     See  page  182. 

13-cubic-foot  buckets.  It  is  working  near  the  west  end  of  the  district 
on  low  beach  land,  and  up  to  January  1,  1909,  or  during  a  little  over 
three  years,  has  turned  over  209  acres  and  handled  6.500,000  cubic 
yards  of  gravel,  while  digging  to  an  average  depth  of  20  feet. 

Folsom  No.  4  was  the  first  gold  dredge  of  its  size  ever  constructed,  as 
well  as  the  first  dredge  to  be  equipped  with  double-bank  gold-saving- 
tables.  The  general  idea  of  the  construction  originated  with  R.  G. 
Hanford,  then  general  manager  of  the  Folsom  Development  Company, 
who,  contrary  to  the  advice  of  experienced  dredge  men  and  dredge 
constructors,  carried  out  his  ideas  for  the  construction  of  this  dredge. 


]86 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


No.    153.      Folsom   No.   4   Dredge,   showing   bow   gantry  and   bucket-line,    13-cubic-foot   buckets. 


No.    154.     Winch   House,    Folsom   No.   4   Dredge.    Folsom   District. 


DKi::)tilX(i  DISTKICTS — SACRAMENTO  CUL'XTY, 


187 


As  the  washing  surface  of  a  dredge  is  limited  to  the  size  of  the  hull, 
it  became  a  serious  factor  how  to  wash  the  large  amount  of  material 
due  to  the  increased  capacity  of  the  buckets.  This  difficulty  was  over- 
come bj'  the  arrangement  of  the  double-bank  tables,  which  were  worked 
out  by  Hauford's  dredge  superintendent,  S.  A.  Martindale,  and 
installed  on  the  dredge.  Aside  from  many  important  changes  the  screen- 
ing area  was  increased  by  the  addition  of  large  shaking  screens,  and  all 
parts  of  the  dredge  strengthened  and  made  heavier  in  proportion  to  the 
increased  capacity  of  the  l)uckets.  The  dredge  was  partly  designed 
and  constructed  by  the  company  at  the  Folsom  machine  shops,  Buey- 


No.    155.      Folsom    No.    5    Dredge,    showing    double   tail    sluices,    California    type. 

rus  machinery  being  in.stalled.  It  has  handled  about  250,000  cubic 
yards  per  month,  at  a  cost  of  about  3  cents  per  cubic  yard,  and  is  in 
good  working  condition  to-day  after  over  four  years  in  operation. 

The  electric  motor  equipment  installed  upon  Folsom  No.  4  dredge  has 
a  rated  capacity  of  -llS-horsepower,  distributed  as  follows: 

Bucket  drive  motor  200  h.p 

16-inch  Worthington  pump  motor 100  h.p 

Winch  motor  30  h.p 

Shaker  motor   30  h.p 

Stacker  motor   -10  h.p 

0-inch  primary  pump  motor 1.5  h.p 

Rated  capacity  415  h.p. 

The  average  power  consumed  while  in  full  operation  is  260.2  horse- 
power, or  195  kilowatts. 

Folsom  No.  5  was  put  in  operation  December  10,  1905.  Tliis  dredge 
is  of  the  elose-connected-bucket  elevator  type,  equipped  with  73.9-cubic- 
foot  buckets,  monitors,  and  double-bank  tables.  It  is  working  on  Rebel 
Hill,  digging  in  partly  cemented  gravel  to  an  average  depth  of  about 
60  feet,  and  up  to  January  1,  1909,  or  a  little  over  three  years,  has 
turned  over  39  acres  and  handled  3,350,000  cubic  yards  of  gravel. 


.      580  r.p.m. 

W.H. 

v.s. 

2000  volts 

.      580  r.p.m. 

W.H. 

C.R. 

2000  volts 

.      850  r.p.m. 

W.H. 

V.S. 

100  volts 

850  r.p.m. 

W.H. 

C.S. 

400  volts 

.      850  r.p.m. 

W.H. 

V.S. 

400  volts 

.    1120  r.p.m. 

W.H. 

C.S. 

400  volts 

188 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


The  gravel  in  the  Rebel  Hill  section  is  deeper  and  more  compact 
than  any  other  in  the  district.  It  ranges  in  depth  from  50  to  75  feet,  is 
partly  cemented  for  the  first  6  or  8  feet,  and  compact  for  the  next  25 
or  30  feet,  but  the  lower  portion  is  loose  and  does  not  present  mnch 
difficulty  in  dredging. 

To  dredge  this  deposit  without  constant  blasting  was  long  considered 
economically  impossible,  even  at  a  depth  of  30  feet,  and  to  construct 
a  dredge  with  9-cubic-foot  buckets  to  dig  to  a  depth  of  70  feet  in  a 
deposit  of  this  kind,  with  all  the  excessive  weight  of  machinery  that 
would  follow  such  a  design,  was  thought  impracticable.    The  problems 


No.   156.     Folsom   No.   5  Dredge,  showing  lower  tumbler  and  bucket  line,  also  monitor  on  bow 

of  dredge.      Folsom   District. 

presented  were  overcome  by  R.  G.  Hanford.  who  decided  to  use  moni- 
tors to  break  down  the  first  20  or  30  feet  of  gravel,  thus  leaving  only 
the  looser  gravel  to  be  dug.  The  Western  Engineering  and  Construc- 
tion Company  constructed  the  dredge  and  installed  Bucyi^us  machinery. 
Folsom  No.  5  was  the  first  gold  dredge  to  be  designed  with  monitor 
equipment.  It  has  two  monitors  with  three-inch  nozzles  placed  on  the 
bow,  one  on  each  side  of  the  well-hole,  and  supplied  with  water  from  a 
high-head  centrifugal  pump  driven  by  two  50-horsepower  motors. 
Owing  to  the  w^ater-level  of  the  pit  being  sometimes  20  feet  below  the 
surface  of  the  ground,  and  the  first  six  or  eight  feet  of  top  gravel 
cemented,  it  was  found  difficult  to  dredge  this  ground  without  injury 
to  the  dredge  and  machinery,  especially  the  ladder,  as  careless  han- 
dling results  in  large  blocks  of  cemented  gravel  falling  upon  the  ladder 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — SACRAMENTO  COUNTY, 


189 


and  bucket-line.  While  the  monitors  proved  successful  in  under- 
mining and  breaking  down  the  cemented  gravel  above  the  water-line 
and  the  digging  capacity  of  the  boat  was  sufficient  to  take  care  of  the 
material,  it  soon  became  apparent  that  the  washing  facilities  were  inade- 
quate. The  Western  Engineering  and  Construction  Company  under- 
took to  reconstruct  the  dredge  in  part  and  made  several  important 
changes. 

In  reconstructing  the  shaking  screens  were  removed  and  new  revolv- 
ing screens  and  drives  installed,  one  upper  liank  of  tables  and  one  new 


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No.   157.     Steel  casting  spud  guide  to  protect  stern  on   Folsom   No.   5   Dredge. 

longitudinal  sluice  on  each  side  of  the  boat  were  added,  and  a  new 
device  put  in  the  save-all  in  the  well-hole.  Repairs  were  made  to  ladder, 
main  drive,  sheaves,  spuds,  and  hull.  etc.  The  150-horsepower  digging 
motor  was  replaced  by  a  200-horsepower  motor,  and,  as  on  Folsom  No.  3, 
a  heavy  steel  casting  was  placed  on  the  stern  of  this  dredge  for  tlie 
purpose  of  taking  up  the  wear  and  tear  caused  l)y  the  steel  spud  ru1)hing 
against  the  wooden  hull. 

The  general  equipment  oi"  the  dredge  to-day  is  as  follows:  Seventy- 
three  9-cubic-foot  buckets,  weighing  2.853  pounds  each,  and  dunq)ing 
18  per  minute;  plate-girder  ladder,  weighing  132,980  pounds;  doul)le- 


190 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


l)auk  gold-saving'  tables,  upper  set  wood  and  lower  steel  construction; 
revolving  screen  7  feet  diameter  by  36  feet  long;  steel  lattice  stacker 
frame,  138  feet  long,  weighing  39,280  pounds;  conveyor  belt  40  inches 
wide,  285  feet  long. 

The  hull  is  110  feet  long.  44  feet  7  inches  wide,  and  10  feet  deep,  and 
was  especially  designed  to  stand  the  heaviest  digging  strains.  The 
contract  digging  depth  is  35  feet  below  water-line. 


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No.    158.      Showing  upper   and  lower  tail   sluices  and  long  tailing   conveyor,    Folsom    No.    5 

Dredge. 


The  electric  motor  equipment  installed  on  Folsom  No.  5  has  a  rated 
capacity  of  540  horsepower,  distributed  as  follows : 

Bucket  drive  motor 200  h.p.  V.S.  W.H.  580  r.p.m.  2000  volts 

14-ineli  pump  motor  100  h.p.  C.S.  W.H.  580  r.p.m.  2000  volts 

:\Ionitor  motor,*,  two  50  h.p KiO  h.p.  C.S.  W.H.  850  r.p.m.  2000  volts 

Winch  motor   30  h.p.  Y.S.  W\H.  8.50  r.p.m.  400  volts 

Screen  motor  30  h.p.  C.S.  W.H.  850  r.p.m.  400  volts 

Stacker  motor 30  h.p.  C.S.  W.H.  850  r.p.m.  400  volts 

Two-step  hopper  pump  motor 30  h.p.  C.S.  G.E.  900  r.p.m.  440  volts 

4-inch  priming  pump  motor 20  h.p.  C.S.  W.H.  1100  r.p.m.  400  volts 

Rated  capacity  540  h.p. 

The  average  power  consmned  while  in  full  operation  is  484.8  horse- 
power, or  363.8  kilowatts.    The  4-inch  priming  pump  is  seldom  used. 

After  the  double-bank  tables  were  worked  out  on  the  dredge  and  the 
long  upper  tail  sluices  installed,  it  was  found  that  the  large  sand  pumps 
were  not  necessary  to  take  care  of  the  tailing,  and  they  are.  therefore, 
not  in  commission. 

Folsom  No.  6. — The  sixth  and  last  dredge  to  be  put  in  operation  by 
the  Folsom  Development  Company  was  Folsom  No.  6.  This  dredge 
began  operations  ]\rarch  8.  1908,  on  Sulkey  Flat,  near  Kebel  Hill,  where 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS SACRAMENTO  COUNTY, 


191 


it  is  still  digginii',  in  partly  cemented  gravel,  to  an  average  depth  of 
60  feet,  and  against  a  l)ank  20  feet  high  above  the  water-line.  During 
the  year  ending  December  81.  1909.  it  turned  over  18.9  acres  and 
handled  1.565.598  eul)ie  yards  of  gravel  at  a  cost  of  5.8  cents  per  cubic 
yard. 

This  dredge  was  especially  equipped  to  dig  tight  and  partly  cemented 
gravel,  and  no  exi)ense  was  spared  to  make  it  as  effective  as  possible. 
The  hull  was  designed  to  withstand  the  heaviest  digging  strains  and  has 
proven  one  of  the  staunchest  of  its  kind. 


*^ 

^^-  ■  *^*'"       -    -*-■ 

No.  159.  Folsom  No.  6  Dredge  digging  75  feet,  showing  long  tailing  conveyor  and  heavy  ladder 
construction.  Bucyrus  and  Western  Engineering  and  Construction  Company,  builders.  Cali- 
fornia type. 

A  general  description  of  the  hull  and  equipment  of  this  dredge  is  as 
follows:  Digging  depth  below  Avater-level.  at  -45  degrees  48  feet. 

Hnll. 

Longth    120  feet 

Width  on  water-lino 46  foct    6  inches 

Depth  ■ 10  feet    3  inches 

Draught   6  feet  10  inches 

Mech n n ici I  JC<j n  iji in ent. 

Capacity  of  buckets 9  cubic  feet 

Nuni))er  of  i)Uckots  in  line 86 

Weight  of  ))uckets 262,816  pounds 

Weight  of  buckets,  each 3,056  pounds 

Weight  of  upper  tunil)h'r 20,0il0  pounds. 

Weight  of  lower  tunil)ler Ifi.dOii  liounds 

Weight  of  ladder  and  fittings 144,(i(!(i  iiounds 

Weight  of  revolving  screen 46,410  i>ounds 

Dimensions  of  revolving  screen 7  feet  diameter,  36  feet  long 

Length   of  stacker -• 142  feet  centers 

Stacker  belt   38  inches  wide.  293  feet  long 

Weiglit  of  steel  spud 76.000  i)ounds 

Dimensions  of  steel  spud 34  by  54  inches  by  75  feet  long 

Dimensions  of  wooden  spud 34  by  54  inches  by  78  feet  long 

The  wooden  spud  is  one  of  the  largest  single  sticks  of  timber  ever 
handled  on  the  Pacific  coast.  The  digging  ladder  is  of  the  plate-girder 
type,  and  the  tailing  stacker  lattice-girder  construction  equipped  with 
Robins  belt  conveyor.    See  pages  55  and  60. 

In  addition  to  the  machinery  weight  the  following  is  a  list  of  some  of 

the  material  used  in  construction  of  tlie  dredge: 

Iron  and  steoL. 30.000  pounds 

Truss  rods  and  plates 30,0()U  jtounds 

Pil>ing  and  valves 24.000  i)ounds 

Nuts,  bolts,  and  nails 3:?,000  jiounds 


192 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


The  weight  of  machiuerj^  on  the  dredge  is  1,253,700  pounds,  and  the 
total  weight  of  lumber  in  hull  is  1,141,535  pounds,  making  the  total 
weight  of  the  dredge  2,395,235  pounds. 

The  electric  motor  equipment  installed  upon  the  dredge  has  a  rated 
capacity  of  790-horsepower,  distributed  as  follows : 


Main  digging,  or  bucket  drive  motor 200  h.p 

Main  pump,  12-inch  higli-pressure  motor 100  h.p 

Secondary  pump,  12-inch  low-pressure  motor 50  h.p 

12-inch  Monitor  pump  motors,  two  150  h.p 300  h.p 

Eevolving   screen   motor 30  h.p 

Winch  motor  80  h.p 

Stacker  motor 50  h.p 

5-inch  two-step  hopper  pump  motor 30  h.p 

Rated  capacity  790  h.p. 


V.S. 

C.S. 

c.s. 

C.S. 
V.S. 

V.S. 
V.S. 

c.s. 


600  r.p.m. 
580  r.p.m. 
580  r.p.m. 
580  r.p.m. 
850  r.p.m. 
850  r.p.m. 
850  r.p.m. 
850  r.p.m. 


The  average  power  consumed  while  in  full  operation  is  572-horse- 
power,  or  428.3  kilowatts.     All  motors  50-horsepower  and  over  are 


No.   160.     Steel  spud,  34  inches  by  54  inches  by  75  feet  long.      Folsom   No.   6  Dredge. 

Westinghouse  2,000-volt,  and  all  motors  under  50-horsepower  are  West- 
inghouse  400-volt. 

A  more  detailed  description  of  the  principal  pumps  is  as  follows: 
]\Iain  or  high  pressure  pump,  one  12-ineh  60-foot  head  centrifugal, 
direct-connected  to  one  100-horsepower  motor;  secondary  or  low  pres- 
sure pump,  one  12-inch  30-foot  head  centrifugal,  direct-connected  to 
50-horsepower  motor.  Pump  for  monitors,  150-foot  head  centrifugal, 
direct-connected,  and  driven  by  two  150-horsepower  motors. 

The  two  monitors  are  operated  either  singly  or  together.  Care  and 
judgment  must  be  exercised  in  washing  down  the  bank,  for  should  too 
much  gravel  be  loosened  at  one  time,  the  "cave"  might  fall  too  far 
l)eliind  the  bow  of  the  dredge  for  the  buckets  to  pick  up  the  gravel,  or 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — SACRAMENTO  COUNTY. 


193 


else  it  might  be  necessary  to  handle  too  great  a  quantity  of  material  at 
one  setting,  and  thus  ground  the  dredge  at  the  stern. 

The  double-bank  tables,  which  are  of  steel  construction,  afford  ample 
room  for  gold-saving  purposes  and  do  away  with  sand  troubles  and  the 
need  of  sand  pumps.  The  tail  sluices  are  4  feet  wide.  See  pages  73 
and  74. 


No.    161.      Framing  large  wood  spud  for  Folsom   No.  6  Dredge,   size  34  by  54  inches, 
75   feet   long,   weighing   35,000   pounds. 

The  three-eye  type  buckets  have  not  proven  satisfactory.  They  cause 
great  wear  on  the  upper-tumbler  faces,  and  are,  therefore,  a  source  of 
more  or  less  annoyance  and  delay;  the  main  cause  for  delay  in  the 
operation  of  this  dredge,  however,  comes  from  the  bow-swing  lines,. 


No.   162.     Placing  point  on  lar^c  wood  bpud.      Fulsoni   No.   6   Dreos"-- 

which  at  tlie  outset  were  %  of  an  iiK-li  in  diameter,  but  owing  to  tlie  liard 
usage  and  short  life  were  replaced  by  lij^-inch  lines,  which,  though 
cumbersome  to  shift,  are  giving  fair  satisfaction.  The  side-line  trouble 
is  increased  on  account  of  tlio  liigli  liaiik  which  is  always  around  the 

13— GD 


194 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


dredge.  The  shore-sheave  hangs  over  the  side  of  the  banlv  on  a  pendant, 
but  it  is  not  practicable  to  get  a  sheave  hirge  enough  for  the  line  because 
of  the  np-and-down  lead  to  the  line  which  chafes  on  the  tiang-e  as  well 

as  on  the  rim  of 
the  sheave.  The 
weight  of  such 
a  sheave  would 
increase  the  dif- 
ficulty of  shift- 
ing the  lines. 

Recently  t  h  e 
complete  line  of 
three-eye  buck- 
ets was  replaced  by  a  new  line  of  buckets  made  with  single-eye  in  rear 
and  two  forward  e^'es.  similar  in  design  to  the  bucket  used  on  Folsom 
Xo.  5  dredge.     See  illustration  No.  156,  page  188. 


No.   163.     Two-step  hydraulic  monitor  pumps,  direct-connected  to 
Westinghojse   motors.      Folsom    No.    6    Dredge. 


No.    164.     Hydraulic  jets  breaking  down  bank  in  front  of   Folsom   No.   6   Dredge. 

The  construction  of  Folsom  No.  6  followed  the  successful  operations 
of  Folsom  No.  5.  which  led  R.  G.  Hanford  to  contract  for  the  building 
of  a  still  larger  and  heavier  dredge  to  work  the  partly  cemented  gravel 
deposit  of  Rebel  Hill.  The  plans  for  Folsom  No.  6  were  worked  out  by 
the  Western  Engineering  and  Construction  Company,  who.  constructed 
the  dredge  and  installed  Bucyrus  machinery. 

The  development  of  Folsom  No.  5  and  No.  6  introduced  many  new 
factors  in  dredge  construction,  and  marked  a  distinct  forward  step  in 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS SACRAMENTO  COUNTY. 


195 


gold  dredging,  in  so  much  as  they  demonstrated  that  ground  wliicli  a 
few  years  ago  was  considered  impossible  to  dredge,  and  could  not  then 
have  been  dredged  economically,  can  now  be  worked  at  a  profit.  The 
success  of  these  dredges  materially  increased  the  boundaries  of  the  dis- 
trict, as  up  to  that  time  dredging  had  been  confined  to  the  lower  bench 
lands  where  the  gravel  is  comparatively  loose,  and  free  from  clay. 

To  give  credit  for  the  success  of  a  numl)er  of  things  with  one  man 
is  often  difficult  and  not  always  just  towards  others  who  assisted  in  the 
perfecting  of  the  details  which  are  necessary  for  the  success  of  the 
whole.  However,  in  this  instance,  as  the  moving  spirit  of  the  whole, 
the  credit  for  the  success  of  gold  dredging  and  the  improvements  in 
dredge  construction  in  the  American  River  district  up  to  1909  must  be 


No.    165.     Digging  ladder   before   assembly.      Folsom    No.   6   DretlL;e. 

given  to  R.  G.  Ilanford,  who  since  1S99  has  promoted  and  managed  the 
affairs  of  all  l)ut  one  dredging  company  in  the  district. 

El  Durado  Gold  Dredging  Coniptuiij. — The  fifth  company  to  start 
operations  in  the  district  was  the  El  Dorado  Gold  Dredging  Company, 
the  personnel  of  which  consisted  of  San  Francisco  men.  with  E.  II. 
Benjamin  secretary.  This  company  began  operations  April  25.  190."). 
with  the  El  Dorado  dredge,  a  Risdon  Imilt  boat  of  the  open-link-l)ucket 
elevator  type,  quipped  with  T-cubic-foot  buckets.  The  company's  hold- 
ings consisted  of  554  acres  on  the  south  side  of  the  xVmerican  River,  at 
the  west  end  of  the  district.  The  dredge  worked  intermittently  on  this 
property  until  some  time  in  1908.  In  the  spring  of  1909,  it  was  taken 
over  by  the  Natomas  Consolidated  of  California,  who  operated  the 
dredge  until  ]\Iay  31st  of  that  year,  when  it  was  again  shut  down  and 
remained  idle  i)racti('all.\-  the  rest  of  the  ycjir.  This  dredge  is  now 
permanently  out  of  commission. 

Sahniui  Development  ConipeDiij. — Tiie  sixth  company  to  start  opera- 
tions in  the  Folsom  district  was  the  Natoma  Development  Company, 
which  took  over  the  holdings  of  the  Syndicate  Dredging  Company,  the 
Coloi-ado  Pacific  Gold  Dredging  Company,  and  the  Xatomas  Vineyard 
Compan\'. 


196 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


During  1908  this  comi:)any  commissioned  three  dredges,  Natoma  No.  1, 
No.  2  and  No.  3,  all  close-connected-bucket  elevator  dredges,  designed  and 
constructed  by  the  Yuba  Construction  Company,  who  ordered  much  of 
the  excavating  machinery  for  these  dredges  from  the  Bucj'rus  Company. 

Xatoma  Xo.  1  dredge,  the  largest  gold  dredge  operating  in  California 
at  the  present  time,  was  put  in  commission  May  10,  1908,  on  the  Syndi- 
cate property  in  the  pit  of  the  old  Syndicate  dredge.  It  required 
420,000  feet  of  lumber  in  the  construction  of  the  hull,  which  is  112  feet 
long,  50  feet  wide  on  water  line,  11  feet  6  inches  deep,  with  a  draught 
of  8  feet  6  inches.  The  hull  is  strengthened  by  two  lateral  and  two 
fore  and  aft  trusses  running  the  full  length  of  the  boat.     The  digging 


No.    167.     Natoma   No.    1   Dredge,  showing   13j-cubic-foot  buckets  and  spuds.      California  type. 

depth  is  35  feet  below  water  line.  The  digging  ladder  is  plate  girder 
type,  104  feet  long,  and  carries  sixty-one  13i/2-cubic-foot  buckets  weigh- 
ing each  3,450  pounds  and  dumping  20  per  minute.  The  tumblers  are 
hexagonal.  The  upper  shaking  screen  is  10  feet  10  inches  wide  by  22 
feet  long,  and  the  lower  11  feet  8  inches  wide  by  22  feet  long.  The 
gold-saving  tables  are  double  bank,  constructed  of  wood  and  equipped 
with  wood  riffles  of  the  Hungarian  type,  the  total  riffle  area  being  5,500 
square  feet.  The  tailing  stacker  is  104  feet  long  and  carries  a  42-inch 
belt.  Each  of  the  two  steel  spuds  is  36  inches  by  52  inches  by  55  feet 
long  and  weigh  each  68,000  pounds. 

Electric  Motor  Equipment  Natoma  No.  1   Dredge. 

Rated  Capacity.       Type.  Avei-age  Output. 

Main  drive  motor  300  h. p. 

Wincli   motor   35  h. p. 

Shaker    motor    75  h. p. 

Stacker  motor  35  h. p. 

14-inch  high-pressure  pump  motor 150  h. p. 

10-inch  low-pressure  pump  motor 35  h. p. 

5-inch  priming  pump  motor 15  h. p. 

Totals    645  h. p. 

All  motors  are  General  Electric  Company  550-volt 


v.s. 

514  r.p.m. 

150  k.w. 

200  h.p 

v.s. 

eoor.p.m. 

21.4  k.w. 

28.5  h. p. 

o.s. 

720  r.p.m. 

30  k.w. 

40  h.p 

(;.s. 

eoor.p.m. 

18.6  k.w. 

25  h.p. 

(^s. 

600  r.p.m. 

73.2  k.w. 

98  h.p. 

(^S. 

000  r.p.m. 

20.2  k.w. 

35  h.p. 

o.s. 

1200  r.p.m. 

14   k.w. 

18.7  h.p. 

333.4  k.w. 

445.2  h.p. 

DREDGING  DISTRICTS — SACRAMENTO  COUNTY. 


197 


The  hull  of  Natoma  No.  1  dredge  was  built  to  accommodate  extra 
large  shaking  screens  and  double-bank  gold-saving  tables,  which  were 
installed  to  insure  a  clean  washing  and  distribution  of  the  great  amount 
of  material  handled  by  the  large  buckets.  As  the  gravel  is  clean  and 
carries  but  a  small  amount  of  sand,  it  washes  easily  and  runs  freel}'  over 
the  riffles. 

During  the  first  year  in  operation,  in  the  months  of  May,  June,  and 
July,  respectively,  this 
dredge  handled  an 
average  of  8,029,  8,200, 
and  8.350  cubic  yards 
of  gravel  per  day  of 
twenty-four  hours,  at 
a  cost  of  214  cents  per 
cubic  yard.  The  power 
used  averaged  ;]9,200 
kilowatt  hours  per 
week,  or  about  3-5  of  a 
cent  per  cubic  yard. 

During  the  first  eight 
months  i  n  operation 
this  dredge  turned 
over  60.02  acres  of 
ground  and  handled 
1,830,000  cubic  yards. 
during  235  operating 
days,  at  a  cost  of  2.3 
cents  per  cubic  yard, 
while  digging  to  an 
average  depth  of  1!' 
feet.  During  the 
twelve  months  ending 
December  31,  1909,  the 
dredge  handled  3,048.- 
254  cubic  yards  of 
gravel,  or  an  average 
of  8.397  cubic  yards 
per  day,  at  a  cost  of  2.41  cents  per  cubic  yard,  while  digging  to  an 
average  depth  of  19.07  feet. 

Natoma  No.  2  dredge  began  operations  April  22,  1908.  It  is  working 
on  the  north  side  of  the  river  on  ^vhat  is  known  as  Sacramento  Bar. 
It  is  a  (•lose-{'onne<'ted-bucket  elevator  dredge,  e(iuippod  with  8-cubic- 
foot  buckets. 


No.   168. 


Belt  conveyor  for  stacking  dredge  tailing. 
No.  2   Dredge. 


Natomas 


198 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


During'  the  first  ei<ilit  months  in  operation  this  dredge  turned  over 
16.38  acres,  handling  626,800  cubic  yards  of  gravel  during  130  operating 
days,  at  a  cost  of  2.4  cents  per  cubic  yard,  while  digging  to  an  average 
depth  of  2-1  feet  in  fairly  loose  gravel.  During  12  months  in  1909  the 
dredge  operated  6,849.05  hours,  handling  1,962,448  cubic  yards,  an 
average  of  5,406  cubic  yards  of  gravel  per  day,  at  a  ccst  of  3.1  cents  per 
cubic  yard  while  digging  at  an  average  depth  of  23.44  feet. 

Fatoma  No  3  dredge  was  commissioned  in  July,  1908,  and  is  working 
on  the  north  side  of  the  river  on  what  is  known  as  Mississippi  Bar.  It 
is  a  elose-connected-bueket  elevator  dredge,  equipped  with  61  8-cubic- 
foot  buckets,  dumping  at  the  rate  of  20  per  minute. 

Up  to  January  1,  1909,  or  during  the  first  six  months  in  operation, 
this  dredge  turned  over  81/0  acres  of  ground  and  handled  583,900  cubic 
yards  of  gravel,  during  171  operating  days,  at  a  cost  of  3.9  cents  per 
cubic  yard,  while  digging  to  an  average  depth  of  42.5  feet  in  compact 
gravel. 

Summary  of  Dredges  Operating  in  the  Folsom  District  up  to  January  1,  1909. 


Company. 

Dredge. 

Construc- 
tion of 
Dredge. 

Date 

Began 

Operation. 

Date 
Stopped 
Opera- 
tion. 

5 
o 

to  33 
fD   ^- 

C 

Cubic 

Yards 

Dredged. 

> 
a 

>i 

tf 

03 

a 

UQ 

a 

Colorado      Pac. 
GoldDrdg.Co. 

Ashburton  Min- 
ing Co 

Pacific  No.  1.. 
Pacific  No.  2.. 

Ashburton 

No  1. 
Ashburton 

No.  2 

Syndicate 

Folsom  No.  1. 
Folsom  No.  2 
Folsom  No.  3. 
Folsom  No.  4 
Folsom  No.  5 
Folsom  No.  6 

El  Dorado... 

Natoma  No.  1 
Natoma  No  2 
Natoma  No.  S 

Risdont 
O.C.       .. 
Risdon 
O.C 

Bucyrus, 
D.  L.C.C. 
Company 
C.  C. 

Risdon 
O.C 

Bucyrus, 
W.E.,  C.C. 
Bucvrus, 
W.E.,C.C. 
Company, 
C.C.  .   . 
Company, 
Bucyrus 
Bucyrus, 
W.E.,  C  C. 
Bucvrus, 
W.E.,  C.C 

Risdon, 
O.C 

Yuba  C.  C 

C.C 

YubaC.  C 
C.C.     .- 
Yuba  C.C 
C.C 

April    1899 
1902 

Mar.  1,1900 
May,     1908 

1901 

Feb.   20,'04 
Mar.    16,'04 
Jan.     1,'05 
Nov.  15,'05 
Dec.    10,'05 
Mar.     8,'08 

April  25, '05 

May  10, '08 
Aug.  22, '08 
July     2, '08 

1903 
1906 

1906 

yr.   mo. 
4 

4 

7 

7 

.5i 

4        64 
3        9i 
4 

3        U 

3          i 

9A 

3        8 

'i 
■1* 
6 

3i 
5 

''h 
7 

5 

5i 
5J 
U 
13 
9 
9 

7 

13i 

8 
8 

960,000* 
2,100,000* 

6,000,000* 
450,000* 

3,000,000* 

2,995,000 
5,350,000 
3,000,000 
6,500,000 
3,350,000 
1,200,000 

1,260,000* 

1,8.50,000 
626,300 
583,900 

25* 
54* 

155* 

8* 

Syndicate 

Dredging  Co.  , 

Folsom     Devel- 
opment Co.  ... 

1906 

Aug.20,'08 
Jan.  14, '09 

103* 

54 

150 
8H- 

_ 

209 

39 

16.6 

El  Dorado  Gold 
Dredging  Co. 

40* 

Natoma    Devel- 
opment Co.  .- 

60  02 

16.38 

8.5' 

tC.  C,  Close  connected;   O.  C,  Open  connected. 
*  Estimated  ;   accurate  data  not  obtainable. 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — SACRAMENTO  COUNTY.  199 

Summary  of  Dredge  Operations  from  1899  to  1909. 

Number  of  dredge:^ 15 

Acres  dredged 1018.56 

Yardage  liandled 37,125,200 

Gross  yield : f3,920,231 

The  foregoing  gives  six  companies  which  were  organized  to  operate 
in  the  distinct  and  were  reduced  to  four  at  the  end  of  1908,  owing  to 
consolidations.  Fifteen  dredges  were  put  in  commission  and  6  dis- 
mantled, leaving  0  in  active  operation  at  the  end  of  1908. 


No.    169.      Natoma    No.    3    Dredge,    showing   construction    of    housing 
Company,    builders.      California   type. 


Yuba    Con; 


THE  AMERICAN  RIVER  DISTRICT  IN  1909  AND  DURING  THE  FIRST 
HALE  or  1910. 

On  January  1,  1909,  the  Natomas  Consolidated  of  California  took 
over  the  holdings  and  equipment  of  three  companies  operating  in  the 
district.  These  were:  The  Folsom  Development  Company,  tive  dredges, 
one  machine  shop,  and  one  rock-crushing  plant ;  the  Natoma  Develop- 
ment Company,  three  dredges  and  repair  shops,  and  the  El  Dorado 
Crold  Dredging  Company  with  one  dredge.  The  Natomas  Consolidated 
also  absorbed  the  holdings  of  the  Natoma  Vineyard  Company.  This 
reduced  the  number  of  companies  operating  to  two.  the  Ashburton 
Alining  Company  remaining  the  same  as  in  1908. 

The  following  table  shows  the  dredging  area  belonging  ^o  the  respect- 
ive companies  and  the  number  of  dredges  operating  in  the  Held  at  the 
beginning'  of  1909 : 


Company. 


Dredging 
Land.s, 
Acres. 


Dredges. 


Working. 


Natomas  Consolidated  of  California. 
Ashburton  Mining  Co 


5.621.66 
205 


Total. 


Totals ...I    5.826.66 


10 


200 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


During  the  year  1909  the  above  seven  dredges  of  the  Natomas  Con- 
solidated of  California  turned  over  321.48  acres  and  handled  13,975,185 
cubic  yards  of  gravel  at  a  cost  of  3.6  cents  per  cubic  yard,  while  digging 
to  an  average  depth  of  27  feet  in  ground  ranging  from  19  to  70  feet 
deep. 

During  the  same  period  the  four  dredges  of  the  Feather  River  divi- 
sion of  the  Natomas  Consolidated  of  California  turned  over  79.7  acres 
and  handled  3,555,552  cubic  yards  of  gravel,  during  26,597  operating 
hours,  at  an  average  cost  of  4.9  cents  per  cubic  yard,  in  ground  ranging 
from  25  to  54  feet  deep. 


Table  Showing  Dredges  Operating  in  the  American  River  District  in  1910. 


Name  of  Company. 

Total  Dredges. 

Name  of  Dredges. 

Working. 

Idle. 

Constructing. 

Natomas  Consolidated 

Natoma  No.  1 

Natoma  No.  2__- 

Natoma  No.  H 

Folsom  No.  4 

Folsom  No.  5  --- 
Folsom  No.  6--- 
Folsom  No.  3--- 
Natomas  No.  8 

Natomas  No.  1 

Natomas  No.  2.. 

Natomas  No.  3 

Natomas  No.  4 

Natomas  No.  .5.- 

Natomas  No.  (i 

Natomas  No.  7-- 

Natomas  No.  8 

El  Dorado 

El  Dorado 

Ashburton  Mining  Co. 

Ashburton 

AshburtonNo.  2 

Totals - 

10 

8 

1 

1 

Natomas  Consolidated  of  California. — The  Natomas  Consolidated  of 
California  is  one  of  the  two  largest  gold  dredging  companies  in  the 
State,  and  as  a  combined  dredging  and  reclamation  company  is  the 
largest  of  its  kind  in  California.    It  is  a  California  corporation,  with  a 


No.    171.     Natomas  Crusher  Plant  No.   2.     Southern  Pacific  tracks  in  foreground. 

capitalization  of  $25,000,000  divided  into  250,000  shares  of  stock,  par 
value  of  $100  each,  and  an  authorized  bond  issue  of  25,000  bonds,  par 
value  of  $1,000  each.  The  personnel  of  the  company  is  composed  of 
San  Francisco  men,  as  follows :  President,  Eugene  de  Sabla ;  first  \ace- 
president,  W.  P.  Hammon ;  second  vice-president,  Louis  Sloss;  third 
vice-president,  F.  W.  Griffin;  secretary  and  treasurer,  A.  E.  Boynton; 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — SACRAMENTO  COUNTY. 


201 


general  manager,  NeAvlon  Cleaveland.  The  offices  of  the  company  are  in 
the  Alaska  Commercial  building,  San  Francisco,  with  division  mana- 
gers' offices  at  Sacramento,  Natoma,  and  Oroville. 

The  company  controls  about  6,529.66  acres  of  proven  dredging  land, 
and  operates  twelve  dredges.  Of  this  908  acres  and  four  dredges  are 
located  at  Oroville,  Butte  County,  and  5,621.66  acres  and  eight  dredges 
in  Sacramento  County.  The  principal  holdings  of  the  company  lie  in 
Sacramento  County,  where,  aside  from  dredging  interests,  the  company 


No.   172.     Interior  of  machine  shop  at  Dredge,   now  Natoma. 

operates  two  rock-crushing  plants  and  controls  some  8.383  acres  of  horti- 
cultural land  in  the  American  River  district,  a  part  of  which  belongs, 
hoAvever,  to  a  subsidiary  company,  called  the  Natoma  Vineyard  Com- 
pany. Elsewhere  in  the  countj^  the  company  has  acquired  some  70.000 
acres  of  land  which  it  is  reclaiming  and  making  habital)le  for  settle- 
ment. The  capital  invested  in  dredging  property  amounts  to  over 
$5,000,000.  During  1909  the  dredging  interests  were  divided  into  three 
divisions:  the  Feather  River  division,  comprising  four  dredges  at  Oro- 
ville ;  the  Natoma  division,  comprising  the  holdings  taken  over  from  the 
Natoma  Development  Company;  and  the  Folsom  division,  comprising 
the  holdings  taken  over  from  the  FoLsom  Development  Company.  In 
1910  the  dredging  interests  were  put  under  two  divisions :  the  Natomas 
and  Feather  River  divisions,  comprising,  respectively,  the  properties 
along  the  American  River  and  those  near  Oroville.  The  names  of  all 
the  dredges  in  the  FoLsom  district  were  changed  to  Natomas  (see  pre- 


202 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


ceding-  table),  and  two  of  the  Feather  River  dredges  were  closed  down, 
so  that  during  the  year  3910  the  company  has  been  operating  two 
dredges  in  the  Oroville  district  (see  page  144)  and  seven  in  the  Folsom 
district,  a  total  of  9  dredges. 

During  the  year  ending  December  31,  1909,  the  dredges  of  all  divi- 
sions, which  were  the  3  Natoma,  4  Folsom,  and  4  Feather  River  dredges, 
including  a  few  mouths '  experimental  work  with  two  obsolete  machines, 
turned  over  412.77  acres  and  handled  17,582,736  cubic  yards  at  a  cost 


No.    173.      Blacksmith  shop  at  dredge  near   Folsom.      Repairing   large  buckets  and  tumblers. 

of  3.9  cents  a  cubic  yard,  the  total  operating  time  being  73,767  hours, 
and  the  average  depth  26.4  feet  in  ground  ranging  from  18  to  70  feet 
deep.  The  liueket  capacity  of  the  dredges  ranged  from  5  to  131/2  cubic 
feet. 

Since  the  advent  of  the  Natomas  Consolidated  of  California  in  the 
American  River  district,  dredging  operations  have  received  a  new 
impetus  in  that  field ;  the  yardage  handled  in  1909,  under  the  new  man- 
agement exceeds  that  of  1908.  During  the  12  months  ending  December 
31,  1909,  the  three  dredges  of  the  Natoma  division  turned  over  176.14 
acres  and  handled  6,615,071  cubic  yards  of  gravel  at  a  cost  of  3.02 
cents  per  cubic  yard,  while  operating  during  a  total  of  20,704  hours,  or 
an  average  of  19.1  hours  per  day,  and  digging  to  an  average  depth  of 
23.3  feet  in  ground  ranging  from  19  to  51  feet  deep.  During  the  same 
year  the  4  dredges  of  the  Folsom  division  turned  over  155.34  acres  and 
handled  7,360,114  cubic  yards  of  gravel  at  a  cost  of  4.2  cents  per  cubic 
yard,  operating  a  total  of  26,055  hours,  or  an  average  of  18.1  hours  per 
day,  and  digging  to  an  average  depth  of  29.4  feet  in  ground  ranging 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — SACRAMENTO  COUNTY.  203 

from  18  to  70  feet  deep.  Tliis  reeord  for  tlie  first  year  must  be  con- 
sidered exceptional  in  view  of  the  fact  that  during  the  tirst  half  of 
the  year  a  great  deal  of  time  was  lost  in  putting  the  various  boats  in 
working  trim,  as  well  as  teaching  the  men  in  the  various  departments 
to  keep  a  more  exhaustive  form  of  records  than  previously-  used. 

Many  improvements  were  made  by  the  company  during  the  year. 
The  shops  and  offices  at  Dredge,  a  station  now  called  Xatoma.  were 
enlarged  and  the  offices  of  the  Xatoma  division  moved  to  this  place. 

During  the  year  1909  the  company  constructed  and  put  in  operation 
one  large  rock-crushing  plant,  at  a  cost  of  about  $225,000,  and  towards 
the  end  of  the  year  construction  of  a  large  dredge  was  begun.  This 
dredge  will  be  known  as  Xatoma  Xo.  8.  It  is  designed  by  the  engineers 
of  the  Yuba  Construction  Company,  and  is  being  constructed  by  the 
construction  department  of  the  Xatomas  Consolidated  of  California. 
The  dredge  will  be  of  the  close-connected-bucket  elevator  tj'pe,  equipped 
with  131/2-cubic-foot  buckets,  and  will  have  a  digging  depth  of  55  feet 
below  the  water-line. 

The  machine  shop  at  Xatoma  is  conveniently  located,  well  equipped 
and  large  enough  to  economically'^  handle  and  repair  all  but  the  heaviest 
parts  of  a  dredge.  A  broad  gauge  spur  track  from  the  main  railroad 
line  runs  through  the  yards  making  it  possible  to  unload  machine  parts 
and  supplies  directly  into  either  the  shops  or  warehouses. 

During  the  year  1909  the  company  employed  the  following  average 
number  of  men  per  month  in  its  dredging  operations  in  the  Folsom 
district : 

Folsom  Division  Dredges. 
General,  including  office  force,  dredge  superintendent,  divi.«ion 

nianager   20  men 

Floating  crew  20  men 

Chinese  and  Japs  16  men 

Crew  on  four  dredges 44  men 

Machine  shop 30  men 

Total   130  men 

Total  pay  roll  per  month §12,500 

Nntoma  Division  Dredges. 
General,  including  office  force,  dredge  superintendent,  division 

manager    6  men 

Crew  on  three  dredges .30  men 

Floating  crew 15  men 

Total   51  men 

Average  total  pay  roll  per  month 6,000 

Grand  total  181  men    $18,500 

The  working  time  of  a  dredge  is  twenty-four  hours,  divided  into  three 
eiglit-hour  shifts.  Each  dredge  is  operated  by  nine  men.  one  dredge- 
master,  and  one  shoreman,  making  a  total  of  eleven  men  with  now  and 
then  additional  men  on  day  shift  as  special  work  may  recpiire.  The 
prevailing  wages  are:  For  winchmen,  45  cents  per  hour,  or  $3.60  i)er 
shift;  for  oilers,  35  cents  per  hour,  or  $2.80  per  shift;  for  shoi-emen, 
25  cents  to  34  cents  i)er  hour,  or  $2  to  $2.72  per  sliift. 


204 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


Aside  from  the  regular  crew  there  is  the  clean-up  man  and  his  assist- 
ants. The  company  employs  one  clean-up  man  for  each  division,  who 
has  charge  of  the  clean-up  crew,  and  under  his  direction  the  gold  on 
the  tables  of  each  dredge  is  removed  at  regular  intervals,  usually  once 
a  -week.  He  also  has  charge  of  the  retorting  of  the  amalgam  and  the 
melting  of  the  gold,  and  because  of  this  last  duty  is  often  known  as  the 
company's  gold  man. 

Aside  from  actual  dredging  operations  the  company  employ's  a  large 
number  of  men  in  connection  with  its  other  interests  in  the  district, 
which  are  divided  into  departments  as  follows:  Orchard  and  vineyard 
department,  water  department,  rock-crushing  department,  and  shops 
and  construction  department.  The  employees  in  these  various  depart- 
ments number  145,  divided  as  follows : 

Orchard  and   Vineyard  Department. 

Foreman  and  division  superintendent 5  men 

White  labor  20  men 

Chinese  and  Japs  38  men 

Total   63  men 


^yater  Dejjartment. 
Total 11  men 

Monthly  pay  roll,  orchard  and  vineyard  department 

Monthly  pay  roll,  water  department 


L'ock-Crushing  Depa  rtment. 

Rock-crushing  plant  No.  1 33  men 

Rock-crushing  plant  No.  2 38  men 

Total  pay  roll  per  month 


$3,182 
636 


$0,500 


A  summary  of  the  monthly  average  pay  roll  and  number  of  men 
employed  by  the  company  in  the  various  departments  is  as  follows : 


Department 


Average 
Number 
Men  Em- 
ployed. 


Average 
Monthlv 
Pav  Roll. 


Dredging 

Rock-crushing  plants 
Water 

Orchard  and  vineyard 

Totals  


181 
71 
11 
63 


326 


$18,500 

5,500 

636 

3,182 


$27,818 


The  company  maintains  cottages  and  boarding  houses  for  their 
employees.  They  are  located  in  the  following  places :  Folsom  division, 
25  four-room  cottages,  size  about  24  by  32  feet,  and  8  five-room  cottages ; 
Natoma  division,  at  Natoma,  5  four-room  cottages  24  by  30  feet,  and  one 
boarding  house  96  by  32  feet;  at  Sacramento  Bar.  1  boarding  house 
34  by  120  feet ;  and  at  Mississippi  Bar,  3  cottages  22  by  30  feet,  and  1 
boarding  house  30  by  90  feet,  making  a  total  of  41  cottages  and  3 
boarding  houses.  The  cottages  are  rented  to  employees  at  an  average 
rental  of  $15  per  month. 


<^, 

Ih.!, 

^k 

«v 

/  \V 

C5/ 

/"-^ 

-^/'^ 

•o/it 

**    /^ 

^/^ 

v^ 

^/    y 

-^  v; 

MAP  OF  CALAVERAS  COUNTY,  CALIFORNIA,  SHOWING  LOCATION  OF  DREDGING  LAND. 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS CALAVERAS   COUNTY. 


205 


5.     CALAVERAS  COUNTY. 

Calaveras  County,  comprising  an  area  of  1,000  square  miles,  or  63,360 
acres,  with  a  population  of  about  12,500  inhabitants,  is  the  central  of 
the  Mother  Lode  counties,  extending  from  the  foothills  of  the  Sierra 
Nevada  ^Mountains  into  the  great  San  Joaquin  Valley.  San  Andreas 
is  the  county  seat,  but  the  principal  to\\Ti  is  Angels  Camp,  with  a 
population  of  3.000. 

The  ]\Iokelumne  River  separates  the  county  on  the  north  from  Amador 
and  the  Stanislaus  River  on  the  south  from  Tuolumne.  On  the  west  it 
is  bounded  by  San  Joaquin  and  Stanislaus  counties  and  on  the  north- 
east by  Alpine.     The  Southern  Pacific  railroad  has  three  branch  lines 


No.   174.      Isabel   Dredge,   September   14,   1909,  Jenny  Lind,   Calaveras   County,   Cal.      Note  steel 

bow  gantry. 

running  to  Valley  Springs,  Angels  Camp,  and  Milton,  respectively.  In 
1908  the  county  had  412  miles  of  public  roads,  800  miles  of  irrigating 
ditches,  one  electric  power  plant,  and  about  120  miles  of  electric  power 
lines. 

The  principal  industries  of  the  county  are  mining,  lumbering,  and 
stock  raising.  The  famous  Calaveras  Grove  of  big  trees  is  a  great 
feature  of  the  forest  region  of  the  country.  ]\Iining  in  Calaveras  is  not 
confined  to  gold  mining  alone,  for  it  was  in  this  county  that  copper 
mining  first  began  in  California,  and  before  the  great  deposits  of 
Shasta  County  were  developed"  Calaveras  was  the  leading  copper  pro- 
ducing county  of  the  State. 

Calaveras  County  has  been  famous  for  its  surface  placer.s.  especially 
during  the  days  of  the  "long-torn"  and  "rocker."  The  gold  now  pro- 
duced comes  mo.stly  from  deep  quartz  and  gravel  mines.  Gold  dredging 
has  only  been  carried  on  since  1904.  and  so  far  only  in  two  localities. 
At  the  present  time,  1910,  there  are  three  dredging  companies  in  active 
operation— The  Mokelumne  Mining  Company,  Calaveras  Gold  Dredging 


2f 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — CALAVERAS   COUNTY. 


205 


5.     CALAVERAS  COUNTY. 

Calaveras  County,  comprising  an  area  of  1,U00  sciuare  miles,  or  63,360 
acres,  with  a  population  of  about  12,500  inhabitants,  is  the  central  of 
the  Mother  Lode  counties,  extending  from  the  foothills  of  the  Sierra 
Nevada  ^Mountains  into  the  great  San  Joaquin  Valley.  San  Andreas 
is  the  county  seat,  but  the  principal  towTi  is  Angels  Camp,  with  a 
population  of  3,000. 

The  ]Mokelumne  River  separates  the  county  on  the  north  from  Amador 
and  tlie  Stanislaus  River  on  the  south  from  Tuolumne.  On  the  west  it 
is  bounded  by  San  Joaquin  and  Stanislaus  counties  and  on  the  north- 
east by  Alpine.     The  Southern  Pacific  railroad  has  three  branch  lines 


No.   174.      Isabel  Dredge,   September   14,   1909,  Jenny  Lind,   Calaveras   County,   Cal.      Note  steel 

bow  gantry. 

running  to  Valley  Springs,  Angels  Camp,  and  Milton,  respectively.  In 
1908  the  county  had  412  miles  of  public  roads,  800  miles  of  irrigating 
ditches,  one  electric  power  plant,  and  about  120  miles  of  electric  power 
lines. 

The  principal  industries  of  the  county  are  mining,  lumbering,  and 
stock  raising.  The  famous  Calaveras  Grove  of  big  trees  is  a  great 
feature  of  the  forest  region  of  the  country.  JNIining  in  Calaveras  is  not 
confined  to  gold  raining  alone,  for  it  Avas  in  this  county  that  copper 
mining  first  began  in  California,  and  before  the  great  deposits  of 
Shasta  County  were  developed"  Calaveras  was  the  leading  copper  pro- 
ducing county  of  the  State. 

Calaveras  County  has  been  famous  for  its  surface  placer.s.  especially 
during  the  days  of  the  "long-tom"  and  "rocker."  The  gold  now  pro- 
duced comes  mostly  from  deep  quartz  and  gravel  mines.  Gold  dredging 
has  only  been  carried  on  since  1904.  and  so  far  only  in  two  localities. 
At  the  present  time,  1910,  there  are  three  dredging  companies  in  active 
operation — The  Mokolumne  Mining  Company,  Calaveras  Gold  Dredging 


206 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


Company,  and  Isabc4  Dredging  Company.  The  Butte  Dredging  Com- 
pany of  Oroville  is  this  year  removing  the  Butte  dredge  to  property 
adjoining  that  of  the  Isabel  Dredging  Company  on  the  south  side  of  the 
Calaveras  River.  For  Butte  Dredging  Company  see  pages  119  and  120. 
Table  Showing  Mineral  Produetion  of  Calaveras  County  from  1900  to  1908. 


Substances 


Chrome   

Clay   

Copper    

Gems    

Gold   

Lime    

Limestone    

Mineral   paint   -_ 

Platinum   

Pyrites  

Quartz  crystals 

Silver    

Unapportioned   - 


Totals 


$150,585 
1,649426 

'asoo 

'a583 
18.000 
80,762 


$1,905,856 


$268,000       $251,062 
2,024^685  ,    2,072^939 


500 


17,500 
44,687 


r78 


46,234 


,355,372    $2,371,013 


1903. 

19C4 

$297^263 

$375 

100 

414,399 

1.90ii25 

1,789484 
5,500 

"Tooo 

'".385 

68/280 

6'5^6ii 


$2,270,668    $2,275,554 


Substances. 


190.5. 


1906. 


Granil  Total. 


Chrome 

Clay   

Copper   

Gems    

Gold   

Lime  

Limestone 

I\Iineral  paint   -. 

Platinum 

Pyrites  

Quartz  crystals 

Silver 

Unapportioned   . 

Totals    


$300 

300 

572,022 

10,000 

1.736,816 

$280 

50 

956,315 

l,64i234 

$840 

250 

609.203 

1,097^974 

"$250 
55.5.704 

1,378^.511 

15"430 
1,900 

7,635 
""250 

16^955 

3M46 '        ...11 
2.50  :         



Y4"099 

laooo 

.54.420 

lo'ooo       .1 

62,727          

$50,075 

$2,415,627 

$2,682,863 

$1,789,642 

$2,038,888 

$20,155,.558 

Tlie  Mokelumne  2Iini)iy  Companu  was  incorporated  under  the  laws 
of  Delaware  in  1901.  The  president  and  general  manager  of  the  com- 
pany is  David  Pepper,  Jr.,  Philadelphia.  Pa.,  and  the  resident  manager 
is  William  C.  Calley,  Wallace,  Calaveras  County,  Cal. 

The  holdings  of  the  company  comprise  an  area  of  about  250  acres  of 
dredging  land  located  along  the  Mokelumne  River  in  Calaveras,  San 
Joaquin,  and  Amador  counties  at  the  junction  of  these  three  counties, 
about  three  miles  from  the  town  of  Wallace. 

The  original  operations  of  the  company  consisted  of  digging  the 
g-ravel  with  a  90-ton  Vulcan  steam  shovel,  which  dumped  into  a  hopper. 
The  gravel  w^as  then  elevated  by  Robins  belt  conveyors  to  a  stationary 
tower  and  dumped  into  a  stationary  sluice.  This  mode  of  operation 
did  not  prove  successful,  and  in  1904  a  bucket  elevator  dredge  was 
built  l)y  the  company  on  the  ground. 


DREDGING   DISTRICTS CALAVERAS   COUNTY.  207 

The  machinery  for  this  dredge  was  made  by  Geo.  V.  Cresson  &  Co.  of 
Phihidelphia.  and  the  ecjuipment  consisted  in  a  general  way  of  direct 
current  motors  driven  by  a  coal  and  oil  burning  steam  plant  on  shore. 
This  plant  and  dredge  was  operated  at  irregular  intervals  until  July. 
1908.  when  the  dredge  was  reconstructed  and  power  brought  in  from 
the  American  River  Electric  Power  Company's  transmission  line. 

The  dredge  at  present  operating  is  a  5-cubie-foot  close-connected 
elevator  dredge  carrying  74  buckets,  and  equipped  with  an  independent 
Eisdon  ladder  hoist  and  a  Risdon  6-drum  headline  winch.  The  tailing 
stacker  is  a  Robins  belt  conveyor  carrying  a  30-inch  belt.  The  gold 
saving  tables  are  of  the  doul)le  deck  tyi>e  and  cover  an  area  of  one 
thousand  square  feet,  the  side  sluices  having  an  area  of  about  300  square 
feet.  The  pumps  for  supplying  water  for  w^ashing  the  gravel  consist  of 
one  7-inch  and  one  8-ineh  Krog  centrifugal  and  one  3-inch  high  pres- 
sure pump. 

The  electric  motor  equipment  installed  upon  the  dredge  consists  of 
General  Electric  Company  60-cycle.  3-phase.  440-volt  motors,  distrib- 
uted as  follows :  ]\[ain  digging  motor  lOO-horsepower  V.S. ;  ladder 
hoist,  25-horsepower  Y.S. ;  main  hoist,  25-horsepower  V.S. ;  pumps  75- 
horsepower  C.S. :  high  pressure  pump.  5-horsepower :  shaking  screen 
and  stacker  motors,  each,  20-liorsepower  C.S. 

The  normal  digging  capacity  of  the  dredge  is  from  140  to  175  cubic 
yards  per  hour.  The  company  contemplates  building  a  new  dredge  in 
1911.     The  company  employs  about  twelve  men. 

The  Calaveras  Gold  Dredging  Company  began  operations  in  1904. 
The  president  and  manager  of  this  company  is  S.  A.  ^Moss,  807  Alaska 
Commercial  Building.  San  Francisco.  Cal.  The  holdings  of  this  com- 
pany comprise  an  area  of  about  350  acres  located  in  township  3  north, 
range  10  east,  along  the  Calaveras  River  near  Jenny  Lind.  The  ground 
averages  in  depth  about  33  feet.  The  gravel  is  coarse  and  in  UK^st  places 
overlain  by  hydraulic  tailing. 

The  dredire  was  constructed  in  December.  1903.  by  the  Western 
Engineering  and  Construction  Cimipany  and  e(|uipped  with  l^ucvrus 
machinery.  The  hull  of  the  dredge  is  105  feet  long.  36  feet  wide.  7  feet 
deep  and  draws  4  feet  six  inches.  The  digging  ladder  is  plate  girder 
construction  carrying  5-cubic-foot  close-connected  buckets.  The  tailing 
stacker  is  a  Robins  belt  conveyor  90  feet  long,  carrying  a  32-inch  belt 
187  feet  long. 

The  electric  motor  equipment  as  installed  upon   the   dredge   has   a 

rated  capacity  of  208-horsepower  distributed  as  follows : 

Propsnrc  pumps,  two  7-inoh  contrifngnl .50  h. p.  S-iO  r. 11.111.  C.S. 

Priiiiiiry  iiuiiip.  f)ii('  2-iiicli  centrifugal 3  li.p.  1700r.p.iii.  C.S. 

SiiiKl  puiui..  (.lie  (Viiicli  (•('iitrifiitr;il ;. 30  h.i).  8.50  r.p.iii.  C.S. 

Shaking  screen  and  statkcr  motor ..80  h. p.  850  r  p  m  CS 

Bucket   flrive  motor 75  h. p.  600  r.i>.m.  V.S. 

Winch  motor 20  h. p.  1200  r.p.m.  V.S. 


208  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

All  motors  are  Westinghouse,  3-phase,  60-cycle,  400-volt.  The  com- 
pany employs  about  twelve  men. 

The  Isabel  Dredging  Company  began  operations  in  1908.  Until 
recently  the  personnel  of  the  company  consisted  of  Colorado  mining 
men,  with  W.  P.  Bownbrights  of  Colorado  Springs,  president;  H.  J. 
Reiling,  vice-president ;  A.  Pollock,  secretary  and  treasurer,  San  Fran- 
cisco, Cal. ;  Fred  J.  Estep,  resident  manager,  Jenny  Lind. 

It  is  understood  that  the  company  has  lately  been  sold  to  California 
mining  men,  but  nothing  definite  can  be  given  as  repeated  requests  for 
information  have  been  refused. 

The  holdings  of  the  company  comprise  an  area  of  about  100  acres, 
located  along  the  Calaveras  River  at  Jenny  Lind  and  adjoining  the 
holdings  of  the  Calaveras  Gold  Dredging  Company.  The  ground 
averages  in  depth  about  35  feet.  The  gravel  is  coarse  and  is  overlain 
by  a  heavy  clay  in  places  several  feet  in  depth  and  by  a  sandy  loam. 
The  overburden  of  clay  and  loam  exceeds  in  places  10  feet  in  depth,  and 
is  said  to  have  caused  a  great  deal  of  difficulty  in  dredging. 

The  dredge  on  this  property  was  originally  built  for  the  National 
Dredging  Company,  a  Wyoming  corporation,  and  later  taken  over  by 
the  Isabel  Gold  Dredging  Company  of  Colorado  Springs,  Colo.  The 
dredge  was  put  in  commission  April  2,  1908,  the  hull  being  constructed 
by  the  Western  Engineering  and  Construction  Company  and  Bucyrus 
machinery  installed  by  the  National  Dredging  Company. 

There  are  215,000  feet  of  lumber  in  the  hull,  which  is  100  feet  long  by 
39  feet  wide  by  7  feet  8  inches  deep  with  a  draught  of  5  feet.  The 
dredge  was  built  to  dig  36  feet  below  the  water  line.  The  digging 
ladder  is  lattice  girder  construction  and  carries  5-cubic-foot  close-con- 
nected buckets.  The  tailing  stacker  is  a  Robins  belt  conveyor  90  feet 
long  between  centers  carrying  a  30-inch  belt. 

When  first  built  the  dredge  was  equipped  with  a  combination  revolv- 
ing and  shaking  screen;  the  revolving  screen  having  perforations  of 
large  square  holes  about  3  inches  by  5  inches.  The  gravel  under  5  inches 
and  sand  would  pass  through  the  revolving  screen  and  fall  on  to  the 
shaking  screens,  which  were  placed  directly  below  the  revolving  screen. 
The  coarse  material  on  the  upper  and  lower  screens  passed  out  to  the 
tailing  conveyor  and  the  very  fine  material,  going  through  the  lower 
screen,  would  pass  over  the  gold-saving  tables.  The  bow  gantry  of  the 
dredge  is  entirely  of  steel  construction. 

In  1909  the  dredge  was  reconstructed  and  the  double  screen  arrange- 
ment discarded  and  many  changes  made,  and  it  is  thought  that  the 
difficulties  encountered  in  handling  and  washing  the  clay  and  gravel 
will  be  effectively  overcome. 

The  company  employs  about  fourteen  men. 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — STANISLAUS  COUNTY. 


209 


6.     STANISLAUS  COUNTY. 

Stanislaus  County  is  situated  at  the  head  of  the  San  Joaquin  Valley, 
100  miles  southeast  of  San  Francisco.  From  the  ridge  of  the  Coast 
Ransre.  joininsr  Santa  Clara,  it  extends  east  to  Tuolumne  and  Calaveras 
comities,  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  San  Joaquin  and  on  the  south 
by  ]\lei'ced.  The  county  has  an  area  of  1,486  square  miles  or  965,900 
acres.  The  population  is  given  as  20,242.  Modesto  is  the  principal  city, 
■with  a  population  of  4,800. 

The  San  Joaquin  River  runs  north  across  the  center  of  Stanislaus 


No.    175.      La   Grange   Dredge,    Stanislaus   County. 

County,  and  has  the  Tuolumne  and  Stanislaus  rivers,  which  flow  west 
from  the  Sierras,  as  tributaries.  Water  for  irrigation  on  the  east  side 
of  the  San  Joaquin  River  is  supplied  from  the  Tuolumne  and  Stanis- 
laus rivers,  the  water  being  diverted  by  large  dams.  The  Southern 
Pacific  and  Santa  Fe  main  lines  pass  through  Stanislaus,  and  two 
branch  lines  of  the  Southern  Pacific  skirt  the  foothills.  An  electric 
railway  to  Stockton,  and  one  across  the  county  from  Oakdale  to  New- 
man, is  projected. 

Quartz  mining  has  been  carried  on  to  some  extent  in  the  county,  at 
La  Grange;  in  the  Sierra  foothills,  both  quartz  and  dredge  mining  is 
being  carried  on. 

The  following  table  shows  the  mineral  production  of  Stanislaus 
County,  from  1900  to  1908 : 


Substances. 

19110. 

1001 

1!HV2 

l!t03. 

I'.W. 

Brick    

Cojipor    ...  ... 

$21^212 
193 

$T2"494 

15,700 

375 

$"ia676 
*"350 

$"l5"080 

52.869 

2.400 

"'256 

"$931 

50.000 

1.600 

20 

Gold*   

Mineral   paint   

Platinum 

Rubblo 

Silver* 

""265* 

Unapjiortioned  

Totals 

$21,405 

$29,169 

$19,026 

$70,605 

$52,816 

14 — GO 


210 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


Substances, 

1905. 

1906. 

1907. 

1908 

Grand  Total 

Brick                              -  -      

$5aooo 

2,125 
"'245 

R720 

$a364 
1,720 

""28 

$7,000 

"2'000 
"7'4'000 

Co)ippr                                  - 

Gold*          

Mineral  paint 

Platinuin                  _      ... 

Rubble                        _-      .     . 

Silver*    .        ._  .                .      . 

Unapportioncd  -.    .      

$82,317 

Totals                             

$52,365 

$1,720 

$5,112 

$83,000 

$417,535 

*  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  reports  gold  and  silver  for  Merced  and  Stanislaus  coun- 
ties together. 

The  La  Grange  Gold  Dredging  Company  is  the  only  dredging  com- 
pany operating  in  Stanislaus  County. 

This  company  began  operations  in  1908  and  has  one  dredge  at  work. 

The    president   of   the 

company  is  Jesse  W. 
Lilienthal,  San  Fran- 
cisco, Cal. ;  E.  A. 
Wiltsee,  New  York,  is 
general  manager,  and 
Archie  Scott  is  resi- 
dent manager  at  La 
Grange,  Cal. 

The  holdings  of  the 
company  comprise  an 
area  of  about  200  acres 
of  dredging  ground,  lo- 
cated along  the  Stanis- 
laus River  about  four 
miles  below  the  town 
of  La  Grange.  The 
ground  is  said  to  aver- 
age in  depth  aliout  35 
feet.  The  gravel  is 
medium  coarse,  and  is 
overlain  by  a  clay  soil 
ranging  in  depth  from 
8  to  10  feet.  The  l^ed- 
rock  is  soft,  like  at 
Oroville,  and  is  easily 
dug  by  the  dredge. 

The  ground  w  a  s 
prospected    b  y    means 

No.   176.     La  Grange  Dredge,  June  6,   1909.     Note  the  cast  steel    ^^  drills     and  is  Said  tO 
bow  gantry   cap. 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — MERCED  COUNTY.  211 

carry  more  gold  than  the  average  gravel  at  Oroville.  The  surface  con- 
tour of  the  ground  is  flat  and  free  from  timber  growth. 

The  dredge  was  designed  by  Geo.  L.  Holmes,  San  Francisco,  most  of 
the  machinery  being  furnished  by  Meese  &  Gottfried  Company,  San 
Francisco,  and  AUis-Chalmers  Company.  In  construction  the  dredge 
is  similar  to  other  standard  California  dredges.  It  operates  against 
spuds  and  is  equipped  with  7-cubic-foot  close-connected  buckets,  shaking 
screens.  Holmes  gold-saving  tables  and  belt  tailing  conveyor,  etc. 

An  independent  motor  is  used  for  driving  the  bucket  line  and  another 
motor  for  operating  the  ladder  hoist.  In  the  construction  of  the  bow 
gantry  the  dredge  differs  from  the  usual  type  of  dredges. 

The  company  employs  al^out  fourteen  men. 


7.     MERCED  COUNTY. 

There  is  only  one  gold  dredging  company  in  Merced  County,  the 
Yosemite  Mining  and  Dredging  Company,  which  began  operations  late 
in  1907.  and  has  an  operating  plant  of  one  dredge  on  the  ^Merced  River, 
near  the  town  of  Snelling.  The  general  manager  of  this  company  is 
James  W.  Xeill,  Los  Angeles,  California,  and  the  resident  manager  at 
Snelling  is  James  H.  White. 

The  holdings  of  this  company  comprise  an  area  of  alwut  400  acres, 
located  along  the  Merced  River,  and  consisting  of  river  bottom  and  low 
land,  periodically  submerged  and  therefore  not  cultivated.  The  gravel 
is  a  clean  wash,  carrying  practically  no  clay,  and  no  boulders  larger 
than  can  be  handled  by  a  modern  dredge.  It  averages  in  depth  to  bed- 
rock about  20  feet,  and  in  places  is  overlain  by  a  sandy  loam  several 
feet  in  depth.  The  gravel  is  quite  loose  and  the  water-level  close  to  the 
surface.  Attempts  to  reach  Ijedrock  by  sinking  shafts  were  unsuccess- 
ful, and  the  property  was  prospected  by  means  of  a  Keystone  drill. 

According  to  the  general  manager's  report  the  actual  average  of  27 
test  holes  sunk  over  an  area  of  178  acres  was  191/4  cents  per  cubic  yard, 
and  the  average  from  50  holes  and  pits  combined  was  16.4  cents  per 
cubic  yard.  On  a  tract  of  113  acres  20  shafts  were  sunk  to  water-level 
and  26.7  cubic  yards  of  gravel  washed,  which  yielded  14.4  cents  per 
cubic  yard.  On  this  same  tract  16  drill  holes  gave  an  average  of  23.4 
cents  per  cubic  yard  contained  in  the  gravel  below  water-level.  Pits 
along  the  river  bank  are  said  to  have  yielded  as  high  as  40  cents  per 
cubic  yai'd.  The  general  manager  estinuites  the.  cubical  contents  of 
tliis  hind  to  be  24.200  cubic  yards  per  acre,  the  average  value  of  the 
gravel  161/:;  cents  per  cubic  yard,  and  the  cost  of  dredging  at  6'o  cents 
per  cubic  yard.  The  gold  is  said  to  be  relatively  coarse,  clean,  and 
easilv  saved. 


212 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


The  Yosemite  dredge  was  constructed  from  the  Indiana  No.  1  dredge, 
which  Avas  wrecked  in  the  floods  of  1907,  while  operating  at  Oroville. 
The  hnll  of  the  dredge  was  constructed  by  the  Yosemite  IMining  and 
Dredging  Company,  who  also  installed  the  machinery.  See  pages  115 
to  117  for  Indiana  dredge. 


No.   177.     Yosemite  Dredge,   Merced   County,   California. 

The  electric  power  for  operating  the  dredge  of  the  Yosemite  Dredging 
and  ^Mining  Company  is  supplied  l)y  a  power  plant  owned  by  the  com- 
pany and  located  near  the  Yosemite  Yalley  Railroad  at  a  point  about 
a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  dredge.  The  house  containing  the  generating 
machinery  is  a  30-foot  by  60-foot  building,  made  of  corrugated  iron 
nailed  to  a  wooden  frame  of  simple  and  inexpensive,  though  strong, 


No.   178.     Gold-saving  tables  of  Yosemite  Dredge,  Merced  County,  California. 


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MAP  OF  SHASTA  COUNTY,  CALIFORNIA,  SHOWING  LOCATION  OF  DREDGING  LAND 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS SHASTA  COUNTY.  213 

design.  The  power  is  geuerated  by  a  120-kilowatt.  2.200-volt,  3-phase, 
60-eyele  generator,  driven  by  a  180-horsepower  two  cylinder  gas  engine, 
made  by  the  Western  Gas  Engine  Company.  The  engine  is  operated 
by  No.  2  distillate,  which  is  stored  in  a  tank  sunk  in  the  ground  outside 
the  power  house  and  near  a  spur  from  the  railroad,  so  that  a  car  load 
of  distillate  can  be  discharged  into  it  through  a  short  portable  pipe. 
The  distillate  is  pumped  from  the  storage  tank  to  a  small  tank  inside 
the  house  and  is  then  pumped  to  the  engine.  The  amount  of  power 
required,  measured  at  the  power  house,  when  the  dredge  is  running,  is 
about  140  horsepower.  About  9.000  gallons  of  distillate  are  used  each 
month.  The  engine  consumes  about  one  tenth  of  a  gallon  of  distillate 
per  horsepower-hour.  The  power  is  generated  at  2,200  volts  and  is 
conducted  to  the  dredge  by  No.  4  copper  wire,  and  is  there  reduced  by 
transformers  on  board  to  400  volts,  all  of  the  motors  being  made  for 
that  voltage. 

The  power  plant  has  given  excellent  satisfaction,  few  delays  have  been 
occasioned  by  it,  and  the  cost  of  power  is  probably  not  over  1%  cents 
per  kilowatt-hour. 

8.     SHASTA  COUNTY. 

Shasta  County,  comprising  an  area  of  4.050  square  miles,  or  2.590.000 
acres,  with  a  population  of  25,000  inhabitants,  is  located  at  the  head  of 
the  Sacramento  Valley,  and  is  one  of  the  largest  counties  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  State.  It  is  bounded  ou  the  north  hy  Siskiyou  County,  on 
the  east  by  Lassen,  on  the  south  by  Tehama,  and  on  the  west  by  Trinity. 

Redding,  the  county  seat,  with  a  population  of  about  5,500,  is  located 
near  the  Sacramento  River,  on  the  nuiin  line  of  the  Southern  Pacific 
railroad,  a  distance  of  about  260  miles  from  San  Francisco.  The  Sierra 
Nevada  and  Coast  Range  mountains,  rising  to  an  altitude  of  more  than 
5,000  feet,  cover  a  large  part  of  the  county  on  all  sides  except  the  south  ; 
ou  the  east  are  several  prominent  mountains,  the  principal  one  of  which 
is  Lassen.  Avith  an  elevation  of  10,577  feet.  A  large  area  of  the  county 
is  heavily  timliered  with  yellow  and  sugar  pine  and  fir.  377. 12()  acivs 
being  in  the  Forest  Reserve. 

The  most  important  of  the  many  Ix'auliful  rivers  of  Shasta  County 
are  the  Sacramento,  ;McCh)ud,  Fall,  and  Pitt,  which,  with  their  tribu- 
taries, alford  valuable  power  resources  as  the  How  of  water  is  constant 
and  the  fall  rapid. 

Li  1909  Shasta  County  had  1,015  miles  of  ])ublic  roads,  133  miles  of 
steam  I'ail roads,  thi'ee  electric  powei"  plants,  251  miles  of  electric  ]>ower 
line.  190  miles  of  irrigating  ditches,  and  35,000  acres  of  land  under 
irrigation.  Among  the  principal  industries  of  the  county,  aside  from 
mining,  are  lumbering,  horticultui-e.  and  stock  raising. 


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DREDGING  DISTRICTS — SHASTA  COUNTY.  213 

design.  The  power  is  generated  by  a  120-kilowatt,  2,200-volt,  3-phase, 
60-eyele  generator,  driven  by  a  180-horsepower  two  cylinder  gas  engine, 
made  by  the  Western  Gas  Engine  Company.  The  engine  is  operated 
by  No.  2  distillate,  which  is  stored  in  a  tank  sunk  in  the  ground  outside 
the  power  house  and  near  a  spur  from  the  railroad,  so  that  a  car  load 
of  distillate  can  be  discharged  into  it  through  a  short  portable  pipe. 
The  distillate  is  pumped  from  the  storage  tank  to  a  small  tank  inside 
the  house  and  is  then  pumped  to  the  engine.  The  amount  of  power 
required,  measured  at  the  power  house,  when  the  dredge  is  running,  is 
about  140  horsepower.  About  9,000  gallons  of  distillate  are  used  each 
mouth.  The  engine  consumes  about  one  tenth  of  a  gallon  of  distillate 
per  horsepower-hour.  The  power  is  generated  at  2,200  volts  and  is 
conducted  to  the  dredge  by  No.  4  copper  wire,  and  is  there  reduced  by 
transformers  on  board  to  400  volts,  all  of  the  motors  being  made  for 
that  voltage. 

The  power  plant  has  given  excellent  satisfaction,  few  delays  have  been 
occasioned  by  it,  and  the  cost  of  power  is  probably  not  over  1%  cents 
per  kilowatt-hour. 

8.     SHASTA  COUNTY. 

Shasta  County,  comprising  an  area  of  4,050  square  miles,  or  2,590,000 
acr&s.  with  a  population  of  25,000  inhabitants,  is  located  at  the  head  of 
the  Sacramento  Valley,  and  is  one  of  the  largest  counties  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  State.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Siskiyou  County,  on 
the  east  by  Lassen,  on  the  south  by  Tehama,  and  on  the  west  by  Trinity. 

Redding,  the  county  seat,  with  a  population  of  about  5,500,  is  located 
near  the  Sacramento  River,  on  the  main  line  of  the  Southern  Pacific 
railroad,  a  distance  of  about  260  miles  from  San  Francisco.  The  Sierra 
Nevada  and  Coast  Range  mountains,  rising  to  an  altitude  of  more  than 
5,000  feet,  cover  a  large  part  of  the  county  on  all  sides  except  the  south  ; 
on  the  east  are  several  prominent  mountains,  the  principal  one  of  which 
is  Lassen,  with  an  elevation  of  10,577  feet.  A  large  area  of  the  county 
is  heavily  timbered  with  yellow  and  sugar  pine  and  fir.  377,126  acres 
being  in  the  F'orest  Reserve. 

The  most  important  of  the  many  beautiful  rivers  of  Shasta  County 
are  the  Sacramento,  McCloud,  Fall,  and  Pitt,  which,  with  their  tribu- 
taries, afford  valuable  power  resources  as  the  flow  of  water  is  constant 
and  tlie  fall  rapid. 

In  1909  Shasta  County  had  1.015  miles  of  public  roads,  133  miles  of 
steam  railroads,  three  electric  power  plants,  251  miles  of  electric  power 
line,  190  miles  of  irrigating  ditches,  and  35,000  acres  of  land  under 
irrigation.  Among  the  principal  industries  of  the  county,  aside  from 
mining,  are  lumbering,  horticulture,  and  stock  raising. 


2U 


GOLD  DREDGING  .N  CVLIFORNIA. 


No.   179.     View  of  Sacramento  River  below  Redding.   Shasta   County. 

From  a  mining  standpoint  Shasta  is  the  most  important  copper  pro- 
ducing county  in  the  State.  The  following  table  shows  the  mineral 
production  of  Shasta  from  1900  to  1908 : 


Substances. 

1900. 

1901. 

1902. 

1903. 

1904. 

Brick              -     . 

$12,000 

1,400 

4,166,735 

733,467 

Y7"850 
1,150 

"ijsl 

.$12,000 

1.950 

4,881,048 

927,975 
2.000 

12^960 

"7"644 
89L994 

.$12.2.50 

4,275 

2,496,731 

878.706 

12".500 
3,600 

"7"64.5 
7,005 

306,887 

$17.-500 

2,2.50 

2,171,497 

771,242 

lasoo 

5.400 

1..500 

12.000 

5..500 

203.991 

$1.5.000 

Chrome  

Copper    

Gold   

Granite 

1.470 
3,439,974 
1,031,429 

Iron  Ore 

Lime  .  - 

10,500 

Limestone  

Macadam 

Mineral  water  .               .     , 

Pyrites 

Silver 

Unapportioned   

.399.660 

Totals  

$5,574,026 

$6,737,571 

$3,730,049 

$3,201,680 

$4,898,033 

SubsiHiiees. 

1905. 

1906. 

1907. 

1908 

Grainl  Total. 

Brick   

Chrome  -., 

Copper   

Gold   

Granite  

Iron  Ore 

$14,000 

300 

1,688.614 

684,952 

'8^oo5 

3,600 

12"000 

167".548 

$22,000 

1,200 

4,a38,121 

819,144 

"8"040 
32,960 

89"89.5 
434.483 

$33,000 

5,200 

5,568,873 

791,997 

"loo 

31,900 
30,761 

5,500 
197,364 
370,211 

$12,C00 

5.600 

4,642,976 

l,131,a32 

"9I0O 
80,000 
25.C00 
20.000 
539.  .553 
517,596 

Lime        .     .        __  . 

Limestone             _     . 

Macadam 

Mineral  water     _  . 



Pyrites . 

Silver 

Unapportioned   .     . 

^1.120 

Totals  

.$2,579,014 

$5,745,843 

$7,084,706 

$6,983,657 

$46,575,699 

DREDGING  DISTRICTS — SHASTA  COUNTY. 


215 


No.   180.     Dredging  ground  on   Clear   Creek,  near   Horsetown.   Shasta   County. 

Tliere  is  ouly  one  dredging  company  in  Shasta  County,  operating  a 
bne-ivet  elevator  dredge  at  the  present  time,  although  there  are  said  to 
be  several  thousand  acres  of  dredging  land  in  this  county. 


No.    181.      Old   type   dredge,    showing   tail   sluices   and   tail   scow,    Shasta    Company's   dredge 
before  reconstruction.      Clear   Creek,   Shasta   County. 

The  ground  along  Clear  Creek,  on  which  dredging  is  being  done, 
ranges  in  dei)th  from  20  feet  to  40  feet  and  in  character  the  gravel  is  a 
fairly  fine  loose  river  wash,  carrying  few  large  boulders  and  not  much 


No.    182.      Old  type  double-lift  dredge  being  reconstructed  to  a   single-lift.      Shasta    Company's 
dredge  during  reconstruction.     Clear  Creek,   Shasta   County. 


216  GOLD  DREDGING  IX  CALIFORXIA. 

clay.  The  contour  of  the  ground  is  fairly  even  and  not  much  covered 
by  timber  growth.  The  bedrock  is  mostly  soft  and  in  character  much 
the  same  as  that  at  Oroville.  The  gold  is  generally  fairly  coarse  and 
is  worth  about  $19  per  ounce.  The  gravel  is  said  to  yield  from  6  cents 
to  25  cents  per  cubic  yard. 

The  Shasta  Dredging  Company  began  operations  in  1906  with  one 
bucket  elevator  dredge.  The  personnel  of  this  company  consists  mainly 
of  Pennsylvania  men.  President,  E.  T.  Kruse ;  resident  manager, 
T.  G.  Janney,  Bedding,  Cal. 

The  holdings  of  the  company  comprise  an  area  of  about  700  acres  of 
dredging  land,  located  along  Clear  Creek  near  Horseto^^^l,  about  nine 
miles  southwest  of  Redding. 

The  first  dredge  installed  by  the  company  was  of  the  old  double-lift 
type,  equipped  with  long  tail  sluices  and  tail  scow,  and  a  large  pump 
for  elevating  the  gravel.  After  being  partly  destroyed  by  fire,  this 
dredge  was  reconstructed  in  1908  by  the  Western  Engineering  an:l 
Construction  Company.  The  tail  scow  and  sluice  were  removed  and 
replaced  by  wood  gold-saving  tables,  shaking  screens,  and  a  30-ineh 
Robins  belt  conveyor  for  .stacking  tailing.  At  the  same  time  a  10-foot 
section  Avas  added  to  the  digging  ladder,  increasing  the  digging  depth 
of  the  dredge  to  28  feet.  The  upper  tumbler  and  middle  gantry  were 
moved  forward  and  the  main  drive  reset.  The  location  of  the  pilot 
house  was  changed  and  the  winch  levers  were  moved  from  a  position 
directly  over  the  bucket  line  to  a  more  favorable  location  on  the  forward 
starboard  side  of  the  dredge. 

Shortly  after  the  reconstructed  dredge  was  put  in  commission,  June 
]5.  1908.  it  was  almost  destroyed  by  fire  on  August  7,  1908,  through 
what  was  believed  to  be  a  defect  in  the  transformers.  It  was  rebuilt 
by  the  Yuba  Construction  Company  and  put  again  in  operation  in 
July.  1909. 

This  dredge,  which  is  now  working,  was  built  according  to  the  latest 
practice  used  in  dredge  construction  in  California.  It  is  equipped  with 
5-cubic-foot  close-connected  buckets,  belt  tailing  stacker,  and  spuds. 
The  gold-saving  tables  are  of  the  single  bank  type,  and  extend  outside 
the  housing  on  both  sides  of  the  dredge. 

Elsewhere  in  Shasta  County  prospecting  for  dredging  land  is  being 
carried  on  and  a  large  tract  of  land  has  been  proved.  Over  5.000  acres 
of  land  along  Clear  Creek  and  the  Sacramento  River  have  been  bonded 
by  one  company,  and  is  now  being  prospected. 

Prospecting  is  carried  on  principally  by  shaft  sinking :  a  new  method 
of  timber  lagging  is  being  used.  Some  of  the  property  was  prospected 
by  drills  a  number  of  years  ago.  and  it  was  reported  that  fair  values 
were  obtained.  The  cost  of  dredging  at  that  time  was  higher  than  at 
present,  and  it  is  anticipated  that  with  present  methods  a  large  portion 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS SHASTA  COUNTY. 


217 


No.    183.      Remodeled  double-lift  dredge  with  tail  scow  and   tail   sluices  to  singie-Uft  close- 
connected  bucket  dredge  with  tailing  stacker.     Shasta  dredge,   1908. 


No.   184.     Shasta  dredge  in  course  of  construction,  near  Horsetown,   Clear  Creek,    1909. 


No.    185.      Hull  of  placer   mining  machine,    Clear    Creek,    Shasta    County. 


218  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  Cx\X,IFORNIA. 

of  the  property  will  prove  profitable.  Conditions  for  economical  work- 
ing are  very  favorable,  and  should  the  results  of  prospecting  prove  of 
sufficient  value  to  warrant  the  installation  of  the  largest  types  of 
dredges,  one  of  the  largest  dredging  fields  in  the  State  will  be  opened 
^long  Clear  Creek  and  the  Sacramento  River. 

William  Desilhorst  has,  for  many  years,  successfully  operated  a  steam 
scoop  along  Clear  Creek;  while  the  capacity  of  the  scoop  is  small,  the 
results  obtained  prove  that  the  gravel  of  this  section  carries  considerable 
gold.  The  reported  cost  of  dredging  with  the  Desilhorst  scoop  is  from 
20  to  25  cents  per  cubic  yard. 

Along  the"  Sacramento  River,  in  the  vicinity  of  Redding,  a  number 
of  suction  dredges  equipped  with  centrifugal  pumps  for  lifting  the 
gravel  have  been  in  operation.  These  machines  have  so  far  not  been 
a  success  in  extracting  gold  from  the  gravel  in  payable  quantities. 

Pneumatic  caisson  dredges  have  also  been  operated  on  the  river,  but 
owing  to  the  limited  capacity  of  these  machines,  and  to  the  depth  of  the 
ground  necessary  to  be  removed  before  reaching  bedrock,  it  is  a  ques- 
tion as  to  their  profitable  operation. 

9.    SISKIYOU  COUNTY. 

Siskiyou  County,  comprising  an  area  of  6,078  square  miles,  or 
3,870,720  acres,  with  a  population  of  about  20,000  inhabitants,  is  the 
largest  county  in  the  northern  half  of  the  State,  and  the  fifth  largest 
in  California.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  State  of  Oregon  for 
a  distance  of  80  miles,  and  on  the  east,  south,  and  west  by  Modoc,  Shasta, 
Trinity,  Humboldt,  and  Del  Norte  counties,  respectively.  Yreka,  the 
county  seat,  has  a  population  of  about  2.000  people,  and  is  located  at  an 
altitude  of  2,620  feet  on  a  branch  line  of  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad, 
a  distance  of  seven  miles  from  Montague,  a  station  on  the  main  line 
about  380  miles  north  of  San  Francisco. 


No.    186.     Outcrop  of  bedrock  near  dredging  ground   at   Scott   River,   Siskiyou   County,    Cali- 
fornia.    Town  of  Callahan   in   distance. 


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MAP  OF  SISKIYOU  COUNTY.  CALIFORNIA,  SHOWING  LOCATION  OF  DREDGING  LAND. 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — SISKIYOU  COUNTY. 


219 


Owing  to  the  Sierra  Nevada  and  Coast  Range  mountains  coming 
together  in  Siskiyou  County  over  two  thirds  of  the  area  is  covered  by 
mountains  and  forests,  giving  Siskiyou  the  most  picturesque  expanse 
of  mountains,  eanvons.  and  forests,  together  with  a  multitude  of  streams 


msm^^'m.,^ 


No.    187.      Hauling   dredge  machinery  in   the  mountains.      Revolving   screen  for   Scott   River 

Dredging    Company. 


whicli  run  southward  to  the  Sacramento  and  northerly  and  westerly  to 
the  Klamath  River,  the  principal  mountain  ranges  are  the  Klamath, 
Scott,  and  Salmon,  ranging  in  altitude  from  2.000  to  1-1,500  feet. 


No.    188.      Framing  timbers  for  a  placer  dredge  in   the   mountains.      Siskiyou   County.    California. 

Tlie  agricultural  interests  are  chiefly  confined  to  the  valley  lands, 
which  comprise  about  1.500  square  miles,  located  in  the  western,  central. 
and  eastern  parts  of  the  county,  in  Scott,  Shasta,  and  Little  Shasta, 


218 


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DREDGING  DISTRICTS^SISKIYOU  COUXTY, 


219 


Owing  to  the  Sierra  Nevada  and  Coast  Range  mountains  (Mjining 
together  in  Siskiyou  County  over  two  thirds  of  the  area  is  covered  by 
mountains  and  forests,  giving  Siskiyou  the  most  picturesfjue  expanse 
of  mountains,  eanvons.  and  forests,  together  with  a  multitude  of  streams 


•♦*<5^j^^>--.  t-.»^' 


No.    187.      Hauling   dredge  machinery  in  the  mountains.      Revolving   screen  for   Scott   River 

Dredging    Company. 

which  run  southward  to  the  Sacramento  and  northerly  and  westerly  to 
the  Klamath  River,  the  principal  mountain  ranges  are  the  Klamath, 
Scott,  and  Salmon,  ranging:  in  altitude  from  2,000  to  14,500  feet. 


No.    188.      Framing  timbers  for  a  placer  dredge  in   the  mountains.      Siskiyou   County.    California. 

The  agricultural  interests  are  chiefly  confined  to  the  valley  lands, 
which  comprise  about  1.500  square  miles,  located  in  the  w(>stern,  central, 
and  eastern  parts  of  the  county,  in  Scott,  Shasta,  and  Little  Shasta, 


220 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  C.UjIFORNIA. 


MeCloiid,  and  Butte  valleys,  respectively.  The  principal  river  is  the 
Klamath,  which,  with  its  tributaries,  drains  nearly  the  entire  county, 
and  furnishes  abundant  water  for  irrigation,  power  plants,  etc.,  and  not 
being  navigable,  furnishes  a  natural  dumping  place  for  placer  mines. 
The  principal  industries  of  Siskiyou  County  are  lumbering,  mining, 
stock  raising,  and  farming.  The  county  has  1.100  miles  of  public  roads, 
204.16  miles  of  railroad,  155  miles  of  electric  power  lines,  and  eight 
electric  power  plants.  300  miles  of  irrigating  ditches,  which  at  present 
supply  water  to  33,000  acres.  The  total  assessed  valuation  of  property 
in  1909  amounted  to  $18,412,339. 

The  mining  section,  which  contributes  a  large  share  to  the  prosperity 
and  progress  of  the  county,  is  located  in  the  west  half.  The  following 
table  shows  the  mineral  production  of  Siskiyou  County  from  1900  to 
1908 : 


1900. 

1901. 

1932. 

1903. 

1904. 

Copper   

Gold   

Lead  

Lime  

Limestone 

$95t397 
'4'5'^000 
'l'3'^986 

$^'6';043 
f7'5'^000 

"6,m 

$23 
906,989 

l'8'7'^500 

'"233 

$6'l'3'576 

'50,000 

22 

$89'2"685 

Mineral  water  -_  - 

50,000 

Platinum                   .     .     _-  _ 

21 

Rubble -. 

Sandstone            .- 

Silver 

1.2.30 

Unapportioned                -  - 

Totals 

$1,010,383 

$1,067,451 

$1,094,745 

$663,598 

$943,936 

-      1905. 

1906. 

1907. 

1908. 

Copper                          

$8'o'3"^535 

""93 

"L250 
2,499 

'$'1^500 

$39 

398,017 

140 

1,000 

300 

36,250 

"3'9'o5o 

12,897 

3,037 

$5'0~4a56 

183 

1,680 

'saooo 

"L485 
6.125 

Gold             

Lead 

Lime  _      -      -                     _      ._ 

Limestone  .     -           .     .     -  - 

Mineral  water 

Platinum                               .    _ 

Rubble          

Sandstone 

Silver        -    

Unapportioned                        -  - 

$1,202,732 

Totals  -     -            .        _     -  . 

$806,877 

$1,500 

$490,680 

$593,629 

$7,875,531 

Along  the  Klamath  Eiver  and  its  important  tributaries  are  large 
gravel  deposits.  Hydraulic  mining  has  been  most  profitable,  and 
formerly  the  gold  from  the  gravel  mines  of  Siskiyou  County  exceeded 
in  value  the  annual  output  of  all  other  gravel  mines  in  California,  but 
the  gold  yield  from  that  source  is  now  exceeded  by  a  number  of  other 
counties.  River-bed  mining,  by  the  use  of  wing-dams,  has  been  carried 
en  more  extensively  than  in  any  other  county,  and  lately  gold  dredging 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — SISKIYOU  COUNTY. 


221 


has  met  with  success.  In  1910  there  were  two  gold  dredging  i-ompanies 
operating  elevator  dredges  in  Siskiyou  County,  the  Siskiyou  Dredging 
Company  and  the  Scott  River  Dredging  Company. 

Scott  Biver  Dredging  Company. — The  Scott  River  Dredging  Com- 
pany began  operations  in  August,  1908,  and  has  an  operating  phmt  of 
one  dredge.  The  company  is  incorporated  under  the  laws  of  the  State 
of  ]\Iaine.  the  officers  being  as  follows :  President,  Thomas  C.  Bishop ; 
vice-president.  E.  E.  Brownell ;  secretary  and  treasurer,  F.  S.  ]\Iayhew; 


No.   189.     Scott  River  Dredge^  Siskiyou  County,   California. 

307  Chmie  building.  San  Francisco;  managers,  Brayton  and  ^layhew ; 
superintendent  at  dredge,  R.  C.  Specht. 

The  holdings  of  this  company  comprise  an  area  of  about  200  acres, 
located  in  parts  of  sections  7,  17,  20,  and  21,  township  40  north,  range 
8  we.st.  lying  along  Scott  River  at  the  town  of  Callahan.  The  property 
Avas  i)rospected  by  means  of  drills  averaging  about  one  test  hole  per 
acre.  The  gravel  averages  in  depth  about  30  feet,  and  in  character  is 
a  coarse  wash,  carrying  little  sand  and  no  clay.  The  bedrock  is  irreg- 
ular and  consists  of  a  decomposed  schist,  causing  some  difficulty  in 
dredging. 

Scott  Kiver  Dredge.— The  Scott  River  dredge  was  put  in  commission 
August  5,  1908,  and  was  the  first  large  close-con nected-bucket  elevator 
dredge  to  be  built  in  Siskiyou  County.  During  the  first  twelve  months 
in  operation  it  turned  over  7.5  acres  of  ground  and  handled  354.961 
cu1)ic  yards  of  gravel,  while  digging  to  an  average  depth  of  30  feet. 

This  dredge  was  built  to  dig  30  feet  below  the  water-line,  and  is 
equipped  with  a  double  i)late-girder  ladder,  85  feet  5  inches  long,  carry- 
ing 72  7lo-eul)ic-foot  buckets,  eacli  weighing  2,300  pounds,  aiul  driven 
by  a  125-li(ii-s('p(i\v('i'  moloi-  at  a  sixhmI  of  IS  jxt  iiiinuli'.     Tlic  hull  is 


222 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


110  feet  long  and  35  feet  wide,  and  differs  in  construction  from  other 
dredge  hulls  in  California  in  that  it  is  9  feet  deep  at  the  bow  and  5  feet 
at  the  stern.  The  gold-saving  tables  are  of  the  Holmes  system,  having 
a  lineal  area  of  about  110  feet  and  a  riffle  surface  of  960  square  feet. 
The  revolving  screen  is  of  the  Risdon  type,  and  is  33  feet  6  inches  long 
with  a  diameter  of  6  feet,  having  a  total  screen  area  of  about  360  square 
feet.  The  tailing  stacker  is  Link-Belt  Company  make,  90  feet  long 
between  centers,  carrying  a  32-inch  belt  200  feet  long.     The  equipment 


No.    190.      Scott   Kiver   Dredge  in   course   of   construction.      Siskiyou   County,    California. 

of  this  dredge  consists  principally  of  Link-Belt  Company  machinery, 
some  parts  being  Risdon  make.  The  hull  was  constructed  by  the  West- 
ern Engineering  and  Construction  Company,  who  also  installed  the 
machinery.  The  dredge  has  a  rated  capacity  of  about  100  cubic  yards 
per  hour. 

The  electric  motor  equipment  as  installed  upon  the  dredge  has  a 
rated  capacity  of  345-horsepower,  distributed  as  follows :  10-inoh  pres- 
sure pump  motor  for  the  supply  of  water  to  screen  and  gold-saving 
tables,  85-horsepower,  C.S.,  720  revolutions  per  minute;  revolving 
screen  motor,  30-horsepower,  C.S.,  900  revolutions  per  minute ;  nuiin 
digging  or  bucket  drive  motor,  125-horsepower,  V.S..  600  revolutions 
per  minute ;  stacker  motor,  30-horsepower,  C.S.,  900  revolutions  per 
minute.  Starboard  winch  motor,  30-horsepower,  V.S.,  900  revolutions 
per  minute ;  ladder  hoist  motor,  45-horsepower,  V.S.,  Sl-t  revolutions 


DREDGING  DISTRICTS — SISKIYOU  COUNTY. 


223 


per  minute.  All  the  motors  are  General  Electric  Company  3-pha.se, 
60-cycle,  2,080-volt.  The  Scott  River  dredge  was  closed  down  during- 
the  summer  of  1910. 

Siskiyou  Dredging  Company. — The  Siskiyou  Dredging  Company 
began  operations  February  16,  1910,  with  one  large  close-eonneeted- 
bucket  elevator  dredge.  This  company  was  organized  under  the  laws 
of  the  State  of  Maine,  and  is  capitalized  for  $200,000.  The  directors 
and  officers  are:  Geo.  J.  Carr,  president;  J.  J.'  Hamlyn,  vice-president; 
J.  C.  Osgood,  secretary  and  treasurer,  Oroville,  California ;  H.  G.  Peake 
and  A.  Starr  Keeler. 

The  holdings  of  this  company  comprise  an  area  of  about  255  acres, 
located  at  a  point  5  miles  north  of  Fort  Jones,  extending  for  a  distance 


No.    191.      Hauling    dredge    machinery    in    the    mountains.      Section    of    digging    ladder    for 

Scott  River  Dredge. 

of  about  2 I/O  miles  along  ]\lc Adams  Creek  in  sections  12  and  1,  town- 
ship 44  north,  range  9  west,  and  in  sections  6  and  31,  townships  44  and 
45  north,  range  8  Avest.  The  property  was  prospected  by  means  of  drills 
and  shafts,  and  of  the  total  area  165  acres  are  considered  proved  dredg- 
ing ground.  The  gravel  lies  on  a  decomposed  slate  bedrock,  and 
averages  in  depth  about  40  feet,  and  in  character  is  a  medium  coarse, 
clean  wash,  carrying  no  clay.  The  value  is  estimated  at  aliont  15i/o 
cents  per  cubic  yard. 

Siskii/Dii  Dredge. — The  Siskiyou  di-edge  is  a  5i  o-cubic-foot  close- 
connected-])ucket  elevator  dredge,  constructed  by  the  Yuba  Construc- 
tion Company,  and  equipped  with  Bucyrus  machinery,  and  in  every 
respect  is  an  up-to-date  machine.  The  company  employs  about  fifteen 
men. 


224  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


VI.    RECLAIMING  DREDGED  LAND. 


1.    ROCK-CRUSHING  PLANTS  fOR  DREDGE  TAILINGS. 

The  utilizing  of  gravel  tailings  from  dredge  operations  for  economic 
purposes,  tlierebj^  removing  the  rock  piles  and  making  it  possible  to 
replant  orchards  and  otherwise  reclaim  the  land,  is  a  comparatively 
new  industry  and  was  first  successfully  carried  out  by  the  Folsom  Rock 
Company,  a  subsidiary  to  the  Folsom  Development  Company. 

An  experimental  plant  was  built  upon  the  recommendation  of  R.  G. 
Hanford,  the  vice-president  and  general  manager  of  the  company, 
following  his  investigations  in  the  latter  part  of  1905  and  in  1906. 
These  investigations,  continued  in  the  East  during  1906,  demonstrated 
that  the  Farrell  criLsher,  manufactured  by  Earl  C.  Bacon,  Havemeyer 
building.  New  York,  was  the  most  suitable  for  the  work,  crushers  of 
this  make  being  seen  successfully  handling  large  boulders  on  Long 
Island. 

It  was  found  necessary  to  size  the  gravel  before  crushing,  each  grade 
of  material  being  sent  to  different  crushers,  and  the  smallest  size  to 
corrugated  rolls,  and  it  was  also  determined  that  storage  bins  of  large 
capacity,  from  which  the  rock  could  be  automatically  loaded  into  cars, 
were  an  absolute  necessity  for  economic  operation. 

It  Avas  soon  seen  that  the  $50,000  or  $60,000  first  proposed  for  this 
experiment  would  not  be  enough  to  erect  a'complete  plant  of  sufficient 
size  to  be  a  commercial  succass,  but  it  was  not  thought  advisable  to  go 
to  greater  expense  until  the  successful  crushing  of  the  boulders  had 
been  fully  demonstrated;  the  first  plant,  was,  therefore,  incomplete  in 
design,  many  changes  being  made  as  experiments  were  carried  on,  and 
before  success  was  fully  assured  the  investment  had  increased  to  approx- 
imately $150,000. 

BocT<  Crushing  Plant  No.  1  having  a  rated  capacity  of  1,000  tons  of 
crushed  rock  per  day,  was  erected  and  operated  at  Dredge,  California, 
in  1907.  A  detailed  description  of  the  plant  is  as  follows:  The  rock  in 
the  tailing  piles  to  be  crushed  is  excavated  by  a  45-ton  steam  shovel  and 
deposited  into  dump  cars,  which  are  hauled  to  the  incline  at  the  crush- 
ing plant  by  means  of  a  10  by  14  dinky  engine.  An  electric  30-horse- 
power  hoist  located  at  the  head  of  the  incline  hauls  the  diunp  ears  by 
means  of  a  steel  cable  to  an  elevation  of  30  feet  above  the  ground, 
vrhere  the  gravel  is  discharged  on  to  an  inclined  grizzly  feeding  into  a 
42  by  26  Farrell  crusher.    The  sand  and  small  gravel  passing  through 


RECLAIMING  DREDGED  LAND. 


225 


the  grizzly  is  collected  in  a  bin  under  the  grizzly,  and  carried  to  the 
waste  pile  by  means  of  a  20-inch  belt  conveyor  200  feet  long. 

The  crushed  rock  from  the  42  by  26  crusher  is  fed  into  a  24:-inch 
bucket  conveyor  and  elevated  to  a  height  of  60  feet  above  the  ground, 
and  discharged  into  a  sizing  screen  48  inches  diameter  by  24  feet  long 
placed  above  the  timber  storage  bins  60  feet  long  by  20  feet  deep  bj- 
30  feet  wide  and  located  over  the  railroad  tracks  to  feed  the  rock  directly 
to  the  cars.  The  rejections  from  the  screens  are  fed  to  a  36-inch  by 
10-inch  Farrell  crusher  which  discharges  the  recrushed  rock  into  the 
24-inch  bucket  elevator  for  redistril)ution  by  the  sorting  screens. 

The  gratifying  success  met  with  in  crushing  these  hard  round 
boulders,  together  Avith  the  great  demand  for  the  product,  demonstrated 


No.  192.     General  view  of  Folsom  Rock-Crushing  Plant   No.  1.     Began  operations  August,  1907. 

SO  fully  the  advisability  of  increasing  the  storage  capacity  and  revising 
the  method  of  carrying  the  gravel  from  the  dump  cars  to  the  crushers 
that  it  Avas  decided  to  increase  the  capacity  of  the  original  plant,  and 
to  make  the  following  additions  and  changes. 

The  electric  hoist,  the  incline  dump  car  track,  and  the  tlat  grizzly 
were  discarded  and  replaced  as  follows :  A  main  receiving  hopper  was- 
in.stalled  on  level  ground,  directly  under  the  narrow  gauge  tracks 
supporting  the  dump  cars.  The  mouth  of  the  hopper  is  20  feet  square 
and  covered  with  timber  grizzly  bars,  lined  with  i/o-inch  thick  steel, 
spaced  8  inches  apart.  The  outlet  from  the  bottom  of  the  hopper  is 
controlled  by  a  swinging  door,  and  discharges  directly  upon  a  36-inch 
Robins  belt  conveyor,  erected  at  an  angle  of  16  degrees,  raising  the 
gravel  to  a  vertical  height  of  32  feet  al)ove  the  ground  and  discharging 
into  a  60-inch  diameter  by  16-foot  long  revolving  screen,  perforated  with 
4i/i.'-inch  holes,  having  a  dust  jacket  84  inches  diameter  by  12  feet  long, 
perforated  with  3-inch  holes,  the  gravel  being  separated  into  three 
sizes.  The  boulders  over  41/.  inches  are  fed  to  the  42  by  26  crusher; 
the  boulders  411.  aiul  over  3  inches  are  fed  to  a   36-inch  l)y  lO-inch 

15 — GD 


226 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


Farrell  crusher,  (liseharging  its  product  on  to  a  belt-conveyor,  which 
empties  its  load  "for  distribution  in  the  storage  bins"  into  the  2-1-inch 
bucket  elevator,  common  to  all  crushers.  The  3-inch  gravel  and  under 
is  conveyed  by  an  18-inch  belt-convej^or  to  a  42-inch  diameter  by  10- 
foot  long  screen,  and  separated  into  two  sizes  of  gravel  and  fine 
material.  This  gravel  is  fed  into  two  sets  of  30-inch  by  20-inch  cor- 
rugated rolls,  which  discharge  their  product  upon  an  18-inch  belt- 
conveyor,  common  to  both,  and  carries  same  to  a  21-inch  bucket  elevator, 
discharging  its  load  into  a  l:8-inch  by  21:-foot  sizing  screen,  located  over 
the  storage  bins. 


No.   193.      Folsom  Rock   Crushing  Plant  No.    1. 

The  storage  capacity  was  increased  by  installing  two  12-inch  hori- 
zontal Robins  conveyors  by  120  feet  long  directly  under  the  bottom  of 
the  existing  overhead  timber  storage  bins  to  receive  the  extra  material 
for  storage,  which  is  conveyed  to  a  20-inch  horizontal  Eobins  belt 
conveyor  200  feet  long,  erected  35  feet  above  the  ground  and  running 
parallel  with  the  railroad  loading  tracks.  This  20-inch  conveyor  is 
provided  with  an  automatic  tripper  which  deposits  the  sized  rock  into 
six  separate  piles.  Below  each  storage  pile  is  a  6-foot  wide  by  6-foot 
high  by  60-foot  long  tunnel  constructed  of  heavy  timber.  Each  tunnel 
is  provided  with  three  loading  gates  to  feed  the  rock  to  be  vshipped  on 
to  a  20-inch  conveyor  which  rises  out  of  the  ground  at  an  angle  of  18 
degrees  to  a  vertical  height  of  15  feet  and  discharges  the  rock  into  an 
inclined  chute  feeding  into  the  railroad  cars  on  the  third  track. 

There  are  three  separate  spur  railroad  tracks,  two  passing  directly 
under  the  overhead  storage  bins  and  the  third  runs  parallel  with  the 


RECLAIMING  DREDGED  LAND.  227 

storage  piles.  The  cars  on  all  three  tracks  can  be  loaded  at  the  same 
time. 

The  above  additions  to  the  original  plant  reduced  the  operating  cost 
and  increased  the  output  of  the  plant,  thereby  increasing  the  shipping 
capacity  to  1,500  tons  per  day. 

The  total  equipment  of  No.  1  rock-crushing  plant  consists  of : 

No.  1  main  sorting  screen,  60  inches  diameter  l)y  16  feet  long. 

No.  2  sorting  screen,  42  inches  diameter  by  10  feet. 

No.  3  and  No.  4  sizing  screens,  48  inches  diameter  by  24  feet  long. 

1  Farrell  42-inch  by  26-inch  jaw  crusher. 

2  FcU'rell  36-inch  by  10-inch  jaw  crushers. 

1  Farrell  36-inch  by    6-inch  jaw  crusher. 

2  30-inch  by  20-Jnch  corrugated  rolls. 
2  24-inch  bucket  elevators. 

14  Robins  Conveying  Belt  Company's  conveyors  having  a  total  length  of 

1,500  feet. 
9    440-volt  motors,  ranging  from  5  to  200  horsepower,  respectively. 
4  2000-volt  motors,    50  horsepower. 
2  20UU-volt  motors,    75  horsepower.  * 

2  2oOU-volt  motors,  100  horsepower. 
1  2000-volt  motor,    150  horsepower. 

The  total  motors,  when  operating  at  full  load,  require  485  kilowatts. 

The  operations  of  Plant  No.  1  demonstrated  that  the  crushed  product 
from  the  dredge  tailings  made  the  best  material  for  road  metal,  as-phalt 
macadam,  macadam  roads,  and  all  kinds  of  concrete  work.  It  was  also 
shown  to  bind  well  with  crude  asphaltic  oil.  The  suitability  of  the 
dredge  tailings  for  the  above  purposes  is  due  to  the  great  proportion  of 
basaltic  rock  in  the  gravel. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  a  laboratory  test  of  the  crushed  product 
from  Plant  No.  1  made  by  Smith-Emery  &  Co.,  inspecting  and  testing 
engineers,  at  San  Francisco,  California : 

Concrete  Bock  Test. 

Character  of  rock Basalt 

Si)ecific  gravity 2.94 

Hardness 5. 

Toughness  Very  tough 

Clay  and  dirt  .-.  None 

Edges Sharp  with  well-defined  faces 

Flaws  and  seams  None 

Absorption  .01 

Voids 50     percent 

Screen  Test. 
Weight  per  cubic  yard 2.592  pounds 

nattier   Test. 

Charge:  Dry  rock 100  pounds 

Speed:  28  revolutions  iier  minute 5,040  revolutions 

Weight  of  rock  in  rattler  at  end  of  5,040  revolu- 
tions       90  pounds 

Loss  by  abrasion 10  per  cent 

Dtist  and  Fines  from  lint  tier. 

Retained  on    4-mesh  2      percent 

Retained  on  10-mesh 0.5   percent 

Dust 7.5   jjcrccnt 

Rock-('nisJii)iff  riant  Xo.  ^5.— It  was  only  a  few  months  after  the 
advent  of  the  Natomas  Consolidated  of  California  in  tlie  field  that 


228  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

work  on  rock-crushiiig  plant  No.  2  was  commenced.  This  plant,  which 
is  located  near  Fair  Oaks,  or  about  15  miles  from  Sacramento  City,  was 
completed  and  put  in  operation  in  July,  1909.  It  was  designed  to  suit 
the  peculiar  conditions  attendant  upon  crushing  boulders,  and  is  the 
result  of  the  experience  gained  in  the  operation  of  No.  1  plant.  The 
chief  points  sought  were  storage  for  large  quantities  of  crushed  material 
and  low  cost  of  production,  possible  only  with  continuous  running. 

The  design  and  details  of  this  plan  were  worked  out  by  the  Western 
Engineering  and  Construction  Company,  which  also  erected  the  plant. 
The  plant  has  a  rated  capacity  of  1,500  tons  of  crushed  rock  per  day  of 
ten  hours ;  the  general  arrangement  is  shown  in  the  various  cuts  accom- 
panying the  following  description. 

The  rock  in  the  tailing  piles  to  be  crushed  is  excavated  by  a  40-ton 


No.  194.     General  view  of  Natomas  Crusher  Plant  No.  2. 

Bucyrus  oil-burning  steam  shovel,  mounted  on  60-pouud  rail,  standard 
gauge,  portable  track,  running  parallel  with  the  tailing  pile.  The  rock 
from  the  shovel  is  deposited  in  a  train  of  Koppel  cars,  each  of  i-cubic- 
yard  capacity,  mounted  on  -lO-pound  narrow  gauge  portable  track,  laid 
in  a  loop  to  enable  loaded  and  empty  cars  to  pass  each  other  without 
necessitating  switching  when  returning  to  shovel.  The  cars  are  handled 
by  means  of  a  10-  by  14-inch  oil-burning  dinky  engine. 

The  receiving  hopper  is  directly  under  the  narrow  gauge  track  carry- 
ing the  4-yard  dump  cars.  The  mouth  bf  the  hopper  is  20  feet  square, 
covered  with  6-  by  8-inch  timber  grizzly  bars,  spaced  8  inches  apart, 
and  shod  with  i/o-  by  6-inch  steel  wearing  bars.  The  sides  of  the  hopper 
are  built  of  4-  by  12-inch  plank,  lined  on  the  inside  with  %-inch  steel 
plate.  The  outlet  from  the  bottom  of  the  hopper  to  the  main  No.  1 
conveyor  is  controlled  by  a  swinging  door  built  of  steel  and  operated 
by  a  chain  attachment  wrapped  around  a  small  hand-wheel  drum,  placed 
in  conveyor  pit  to  regulate  the  flow  of  gravel  to  No.  1  conveyor  belt. 

The  entire  content  of  the  receiving  hopper  is  discharged  upon  a  36- 
inch  Robins  conveyor,  166-foot  centers,  speed  125  feet  per  minute.  The 
timber  frame  work  carrying  the  conveyor  is  erected  at  an  angle  of 
16  degrees  to  enable  the  conveyor  to  discharge  its  load  into  the  main 
screen  "A,"  which  separates  the  gravel  into  214-inch  and  less,  3-.  4i,4-, 


/CO  //fi  Afere/^ 

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No.  195.     General  plan  of  Natomas  Crusher  Plant  No.  2  at  Fair  Oaks  bridge. 


RECLAIMING  DREDGED  LAND. 


229 


No.    196.      Natomas  Crusher  Plant   No.   2,   dinkey   engine   hauling  dredge  tailing  to   receiving   hopper. 


No.   197.     Natomas  Crusher  Plant  No.  2  in  course  of  construction.     Shuwint;  main  conveyor. 


No.   198.     Natomas  Crusher  Plant  No.  2,  showing  receiving  hopper  and  main  conveyor  under  cover. 


22. 

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RECLAIMING  DREDGED  LAND. 


229 


No.    196.      Natomas  Crusher  Plant   No.   2,  dinkey  engine  hauling  dredge  tailing  to   receiving  hopper. 


No.   197.     Natomas  Crusher  Plant   No.  2  in  course  of  construction.     Shuwin^,  main  conveyor. 


No.   198.     Natomas  Crusher  Plant  No.  2,  showing  receiving  hopper  and  main  conveyor  under  cover. 


230 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


and  8-inch  sizes.  Tlie  3-  and  4i/.-inch  gravel  is  discharged  into  two 
36-  by  10-inch  crushers  and  the  8-inch  gravel  into  one  42-  by  36-inch 
crusher.  The  %-inch  and  sand  are  separated  from  the  214-inch  gravel 
by  screen  "  B  "  and  discharged  into  two  40-  by  20-inch  corrugated  rolls. 


No.   199.     Rolls  for  crushing  dredge  tailing  used  on   Natomas   Crusher   Plant   No.   2. 

The  product  from  the  corrugated  rolls  is  carried  to  screen  "D"  and 
separated  into  two  sizes,  %-  and  li/^-inch.  The  reject  from  screen 
"D"  is  fed  into  one  40-  by  15-inch  smooth  roll  and  crushed  to  %-inch 
and  dust.  These  three  products  are  carried  to  the  storage  piles  by 
20-inch  conveyors.  The  product  from  the  crushers  is  delivered  into 
screens  "E"  and  "F"  and  separated  into  %-inch  and  dust;  %-,  l^o-, 


No.  201.     Conveyors  for  handling  crushed  rock.      Natomas   Crusher  Plant   No.   2. 

and  214-inch  are  carried  to  the  storage  piles  by  20-inch  conveyors. 
The  reject  from  screens  "E"  and  "F"  is  recrushed  by  a  36-  by  10-iuch 
crusher  and  returned  to  screen  "E"  for  redistribution. 

In  order  not  to  have  the  whole  plant  closed  down  in  the  event  of  an 
accident  to  the  rolls,  conveyors  Nos.  14,  15,  16,  or  screens  "B,"  "C," 
and  "D,"  a  removable  bottom,  operated  by  rack  and  pinion,  is  installed 
in  the  receiving  hopper  at  the  head  of  No.  5  and  No.  7  conveyors, 
together  with  an  auxiliary  chute,  discharging  to  No.  9  conveyor. 
Thereby  the  214 -inch  gravel  from  screen  "A"  is  diverted  from  screen 


«  S"ii.«  >sb»ifa  lol  S  .oH  3n*Hi  «rie«-,:>  ..aK.J«W  uj. 


No.  200.     Section  through  Natomas  Crusher  Plant  No.  2  for  dredge  tailing.  ^ 


RECLAIMING  DREDGED  LAND.  231 

"B"  and  delivered  into  the  waste  pile  nntil  necessary  repairs  have 
been  made  and  the  entire  plant  is  ready  for  operations  again.  There 
are  seven  separate  storage  piles  for  crashed  rock,  each  100  feet  long 
by  40  feet  wide  and  40  feet  high.  The  size  and  class  of  material  is  as 
follows :  3/g-inch  to  dust,  %-,  lYo-,  and  2y2-inch  rock,  all  of  which  is  an 
Al  product  from  the  jaw  crushers.  The  material  from  the  rolls  is  a 
second-class  product  in  sizes  of  %-  and  IV-j-inch  rock.  The  seventh 
rock  pile  is  composed  of  %-inch  round  pebbles  screened  direct  from 
the  tailings  pile  without  being  crushed,  and  is  used  as  roofing  pebble. 
Weight  of  crushed  rock  in  pounds  per  cubic  yards,  according  to  sizes : 

2i-ineh  size 2,592  pounds  per  cubic  yard 

li-inch  size  _.  __  2.580  pounds  per  cubic  yard 

f-incli  size"--"--  -'      2,330  pounds  per  cubic  yard 

i-inch  sizel 2,400  pounds  per  cubic  yard 

Below  the  ground-line  in  the  center  of  each  of  the  seven  storage  piles 
is  a  reinforced  concrete  tunnel,  110  feet  long,  6  feet  wide,  and  6  feet 


No.  202.     Ground  storage  piles  of  crushed  rock  at  Natomas  Crusher  Plant   No.   2. 

high,  inside  dimensions,  with  roof  and  sides  and  bottom  12  inches  thick. 
Each  tunnel  is  provided  with  a  24-incli  conveyor,  185-foot  centers, 
operating  at  a  speed  of  250  feet  per  minute,  which  receives  the  material 
and  elevates  same  on  an  angle  of  18  degrees  to  a  height  of  25  feet,  then 
running  horizontally  over  the  railroad  tracks  a  distance  of  25  feet  dis- 
cliarges  into  a  swinging  chute,  so  placed  as  to  direct  the  rock  alter- 
nately into  cars  on  separate  tracks.  Each  tunnel  is  provided  with  four 
gates,  on  the  swinging-door  pattern,  20  feet  apart,  and  so  connected 
by  levers  and  rods  that  they  can  be  operated  separately  or  together 
from  a  hand-wheel  at  the  mouth  of  the  tunnel. 

The  third  track  is  loaded  direct  from  the  crushers  by  an  inclined 
chute  from  the  head  of  conveyors,  Nos.  10  to  16,  inclusive ;  at  a  .suitable 
position  in  this  chute  is  an  auxiliary  chute  for  the  purpose  of  diverting 
the  material,  when  necessary,  on  to  No.  18  conveyors  to  load  cars  on 
two  separate  tracks  from  storage  piles,  and  also  to  load  cars  on  three 
separate  tracks  direct  from  crushers. 


or7^..A..T7;i,.^H,..,y., 


RECLAIMING  DREDGED  LAND.  231 

"B"  and  delivered  into  the  waste  pile  until  necessary  repairs  have 
been  made  and  the  entire  plant  is  ready  for  operations  aoain.  There 
are  seven  separate  storage  piles  for  crushed  rock,  each  100  feet  long 
by  40  feet  wide  and  40  feet  high.  The  size  and  class  of  material  is  as 
follows :  3/g-inch  to  dust,  %-,  ly^-,  and  2y2-inch  rock,  all  of  which  is  an 
Al  product  from  the  jaw  crushers.  The  material  from  the  rolls  is  a 
second-class  product  in  sizes  of  %-  and  li^-inch  rock.  The  seventh 
rock  pile  is  composed  of  %-inch  round  pebbles  screened  direct  from 
the  tailings  pile  without  being  crushed,  and  is  used  as  roofing  pebble. 
Weight  of  crushed  rock  in  pounds  per  cubic  yards,  according  to  sizes : 

2A-ineh  size 2,592  pounds  per  cubic  yard 

li-inch  size 2,580  pounds  per  cubic  yard 

l-ineh  size 2.330  pounds  per  cubic  yard 

f-inch  size 2,400  pounds  per  cubic  yard 

Below  the  ground-line  in  the  center  of  each  of  the  seven  storage  piles 
is  a  reinforced  concrete  tunnel,  110  feet  long,  6  feet  wide,  and  6  feet 


No.  202.     Ground  storage  piles  of  crushed  rock  at  Natomas  Crusher  Plant   No.   2. 

high,  inside  dimensions,  with  roof  and  sides  and  bottom  12  inches  thick. 
Each  tunnel  is  provided  with  a  24-inch  conveyor,  185-foot  centers, 
operating  at  a  speed  of  250  feet  per  minute,  which  receives  the  material 
and  elevates  same  on  an  angle  of  18  degrees  to  a  height  of  25  feet,  then 
running  horizontally  over  the  railroad  tracks  a  distance  of  25  feet  dis- 
charges into  a  swinging  chute,  so  placed  as  to  direct  the  rock  alter- 
nately into  cars  on  separate  tracks.  Each  tunnel  is  provided  with  four 
gates,  on  the  swinging-door  pattern,  20  feet  apart,  and  so  connected 
by  levers  and  rods  that  they  can  be  operated  separately  or  together 
from  a  liand-wheel  at  the  mouth  of  the  tunnel. 

The  third  track  is  loaded  direct  from  the  crushers  by  an  inclined 
chute  from  the  head  of  conveyors,  Nos.  10  to  16,  inclusive ;  at  a  .suitable 
position  in  this  chute  is  an  auxiliary  chute  for  the  purpose  of  diverting 
the  material,  when  necessary,  on  to  No.  18  conveyors  to  load  cars  on 
two  separate  tracks  from  storage  piles,  and  also  to  load  cars  on  three 
separate  tracks  direct  from  crushers. 


232 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


The  total  eciuipment  of  the  rock-erushing  plant  consists  of  as  follows : 

1  screen  "A,"  72  inches  diameter  by  22  feet  long. 

2  screens  "E"  and  "F,"  60  inches  diameter  by  24  feet  long. 

3  screens  "B,"  "C."  and  "D,"  48  inches  diameter  by  10  to  12  feet  long. 

1  Bacon  42-  by  26-inch  jaw  crusher. 

3  Bacon  36-  by  10-inch  jaw  crushers. 

2  Allis-Chalmers  40-  by  20-inch  corrugated  rolls. 
1  Allis-Chalmers  40-  by  15-inch  smooth  roll. 

30  Robins  Conveying  Belt   Company's  conveyors   having   a   total  length  of 
4.152  feet. 

4  50-horsepower  electric  motors. 

1  75-horsepower  electric  motor. 

5  100-horsepower  electric  motors. 

2  1.50-horsepower  electric  motors. 

The  motor  equipment  is  housed  in  a  main  motor  house  24  feet  wide 
by  60  feet  long,  timber  framing,  and  covered  on  the  outside  with  Xo.  24 
corrugated  iron.  The  pilot  hou.se.  24  feet  square,  is  mounted  on  the 
roof  of  the  main  motor  house,  giving  the  operator  a  clear  view  of  the 
entire  plant. 

The  switchboard  and  controllers  are  designed  especially  to  meet  the 

requirements  of  this 
plant.  A  separate 
and  different  col- 
ored light  is  in- 
stalled directly  over 
each  controlling 
switch,  and  a  dupli- 
cate light  and  auxil- 
iary switch  is  placed 
clo.se  to  each  electric 
motor.  Each  motor 
has  a  push-button 
and  an  electric  bell 
near  the  auxiliary 
controlling  switch. 
and  is  designated 
by  a  certain  number 
of  rings  on  the  bell. 
In  case  any  part  of 
the  plant  gets  out  of 
order  the  man  in 
charge  of  that  par- 
ticular part  of  the 
plant  signals  to  the 
operator  in  the  pilot 
house,  who  innnedi- 
ately  closes  down  all 

Natomas  Rock-Crusher   Plant    No.   2,   conveyor  tunnel  ^  _        .    .i.       i?    ^.i 

under  storage  pile  in  course  of  construction.  ^  '^     dll\      pdi  l     Oi     lllC 


No.   203. 


RECLAIMING  DREDGED  LAND. 


233 


LI/^M  11 

II  '^r  II        wmi 

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y^gl^^^W/ 

iSir 

iim\^^/MU  1 

S^M 

!''  Tf '     -i 

■1 

Kgs'^k 

IHa 

^i3^ 

iSSJjI^B^K^^H^OilB^^H^H 

No.  204.     Natomas  Rock-Crusher  Plant  No.  2,  loading  crushed  rock. 


^m^.:^- 


No.  205.     Machinery  for  Natomas  Rock-Crusher  Plant   No.  2. 


No.   206.      Switchboard   for   controlling   all   circuits  at   Natomas   Crusher    Plant    No.    2. 


234 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


machinery  affected  l)y  the  breakdown,  and  at  tlie  same  time  telephones 
to  the  foreman  of  the  repair  gang,  who  shoiihl  be  in  the  repair  house, 
telling  him  exactly  where  to  go  to  find  the  trouble.  All  electric  wires 
to  the  different  motors  from  the  pilot  house  are  laid  in  underground 
conduits,  thus  lessening  the  possibilities  of  fires  from  this  source.  Elec- 
tric power  is  delivered  to  the  plant  at  22.000  volt,  and  is  transformed 
dowTi  to  2,300  volt,  and  distributed  to  all  motors  at  2,300  volt.  The 
transformers  are  in  a  concrete  tank,  installed  below  the  ground-line  and 
completely  covered. 

A  hand-operated,  10-ton,  overhead  crane,  having  a  span  of  -40  feet, 
and  30  feet  clear  headroom,  is  installed  upon  a  timber  structure  100 

,ecoNu,o,  f*?et     long,    placed 


over  the  crusher 
machinery  and  ex- 
tending up  to  the 
repair  house,  where 
supplies  and  extra 
parts  are  stored. 
The  repair  house  is 
24  feet  wide  by  48 
feet  long,  ecjuipped 
with  a  complete  set 
of  tools  and  ma- 
chinery to  carry 
out  necessary  re- 
pairs to  the  plant. 
Two  steel  tanks  for  storing  fuel  oil,  11  feet  6  inches  diameter  by  10 
feet  deep,  are  mounted  on  a  timber  superstructure  25  feet  above  the 
ground,  and  are  placed  midway  between  the  railroad  tracks  and  the 
steam-shovel  site.  The  oil  pump  is  near  t^he  railroad  track,  and  delivers 
the  oil  from  the  cars  into  the  storage  tanks.  The  pipe  line  from  the 
storage  tanks  is  laid  underground,  and  is  provided  with  ground-cocks 
spaced  every  80  feet  up  to  the  shovel  site  to  supply  fuel  oil  to  the  dinky 
engine  and  steam  shovel. 

Two  steel  tanks  for  the  storage  of  water,  capacity  7,500  gallons,  each 
11  feet  6  inches  diameter  by  10  feet  deep,  are  mounted  on  a  timber 
superstructure  37  feet  above  the  ground  and  near  the  crusher  site  to 
supply  water  to  the  shovel  and  railroad  engines  and  also  for  fire  pur- 
poses. The  water  is  delivered  to  the  tanks  by  one  6-inch  deep  well 
pump,  driven  by  a  belt  from  a  50-horsepower  motor.  A  most  complete 
pipe  line  for  fire  purposes  has  been  installed,  amply  supplied  with 
hydrants  and  fire  hose,  placed  in  convenient  places.  A  Fairbanks  iron- 
framed  railroad  track  scale,  with  50-foot  platform,  and  a  capacity  of 


No.  207.     Flow-sheet  of  Natomas  Crusher  Plant  No.  2. 


RECLAIMING  DREDGED  LAND. 


235 


236 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  C.yiilFORNIA. 


200,000  pounds,  is  for  the  Aveighing  of  cars  of  crushed  rock.    The  cars 
come  down  by  gravity  from  the  loading  bins  on  to  the  scale  platform. 

Labor  Required  to  Operate  Plant. 
1  superintendent. 
1  steam  shovel  engineer. 

3  steam  shovel  engineer  helpers. 
1  locomotive  engineer. 

1  gravel  train  brakeman. 

4  laborers  moving  tracks  of  shovel. 

2  laborers  unloading  cars  at  receiving  hopper. 

1  laborer  regulating  the  receiving  hopper  door  feeding  the  rock  to  the  No.  1 

conveyor. 
6  laborers  attending  the  four  crushers  and  two  rolls. 
6  laborers  attending  to  loading  of  cars  at  storage  piles. 

2  laborers  placing  sideboards  in  railroad  cars. 
4  laborers  oiling  conveyors  and  countershafts. 

1  main  operator  in  the  pilot  house. 

2  electricians  for  motors. 

2  mechanics  in  repair  house. 
1  clerk,  weighing  car. 

The  steam  shovel  takes  eight  minutes  to  load  a  train  of  seven  cars  of 
4-cubic-yard  capacity.     The  dinky  engine  hauls  the  train  of  cars  to  the 


Valley    Contracting    Company's   Rock-Crushing   Plant   at   Oroville,    Cal. 
Newton   Cleaveland  and  others.      Began   operations   August   12,    1908. 


Erected   by 


dump  hopper,  and  returns  the  empties  to  the  shovel  in  seven  minutes. 
It  takes  ten  minutes  to  load  a  40-ton  railroad  car  at  the  storage  piles, 
and  two  cars  can  be  filled  at  the  same  time  with  the  same  size  of  rock. 
There  are  seven  separate  piles  of  different  sizes  of  rock ;  therefore,  it  is 
possible  to  load  twelve  cars  per  hour,  making  a  shipping  capacity  of 
each  size  of  rock  of  480  tons  per  hour. 

The  economic  value  of  dredge  tailings  depends  largely  upon  their 
location.  When  near  a  railroad  and  within  a  reasonable  distance  from 
large  cities  or  other  markets  there  will  be  a  market  for  this  material 
for  a  period  of  many  years.  It  is  quite  possible  that,  as  the  State  of 
California    becomes    more    thickly    populated    and    railroad    facilities 


RECLAIMING  DREDGED  LAND. 


237 


increase,  the  demand  for  this  material  will  rapidly  exhaust  the  present 
available  gravel  piles  built  up  by  the  gold  dredges;  as  it  is  quite 
apparent  that  even  at  this  early  date,  since  the  advent  of  the  roek- 
crushing  plants  the  dredge  tailing  has  risen  from  a  by-product  to  a 
co-product,  commanding  a  place  among  the  industries  of  the  State. 


No.  210.     Steam  shovel  loading    dredi;e  tailini;  for   Rock-Crushing   Plant  at   Oroville,   Cal. 


2.     REPLANTING  DREDGED  LAND. 

The  utilizing  of  dredged  land  for  horticultural  and  agricultural 
purposes,  etc..  has  been  successfully  tried  in  several  places  in  Cali- 
fornia. In  the  Oroville  district,  James  H.  Leggett  replanted  many 
acres  to  eucalyptus,  fig,  orange,  and  almond  trees  and  grapevines.  The 
eucah'ptus  of  both  the  "blue"  and  "red  gum"  variety  and  some  fig 
trees  are  growing  on  unleveled  tailing  piles  requiring  no  irrigation, 
fertilization,  or  special  care.  The  three-year-old  eucalyptus  trees  have 
attained  a  growth  of  from  16  to  20  feet;  the  fonr-ycar-old  trees  about 
30  feet,  and  the  tallest  of  the  five-year-old  trees  a  growth  of  about  40 
feet.  They  range  from  4  to  10  inclies  in  diameter  near  the  base.  Nearly 
all  of  these  trees  were  planted  fifteen  feet  above  tlie  original  surface  of 
the  ground,  and  when  set  out  were  al)()ut  ten  inclies  tail. 

The  grapevines,  orange,  almond,  and  fig  trees,  wliich  were  planted  on 
leveled  dredge  tailing,  are  all  growing  rapidly  and  are  in  a  healthy 
condition.  ^Mr.  Leggett  says  that  the  fruit  from  these  trees  ripens 
earlier  and  gives  a  better  flavor  than  the  fruit  from  trees  growing  in 
ordinary  soil,  and  tluit  owing  to  the  heat  retained  by  the  rocks  during 
the  night,  the  danger  from  frost  is  a  great  deal  less  than  on  s(nl  land. 


238 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


No.  211.     Eucalyptus  growing  on  unleveled  dredge  tailing  in  the  Oroville  District. 


No.   212.      Eucalyptus   and   fig   trees  growing  without   irrigation   on   unleveled   dredge   tailing   in 
the   Oroville   District,   June,    1909. 


RECLAIMING  DREDGED  LAND. 


239 


He  also  states  that  it  requires  only  five  per  cent  of  the  water  used  in 
irriyation  on  ordinary  soil  to  grow  plants  on  dredged  land. 

The  method  of  planting  trees  is  as  follows:  A  small  shallow  place  is 
excavated  in  the  rock  tailing  and  filled  with  good  soil,  and  the  young 
trees.  Avhich  are  lifted  with  the  usual  ball  of  earth  to  the  roots,  are 
planted  in  this  soil.  In  some  instances  old  orange  and  other  trees  have 
been  transplanted  from  land  to  be  dredged  to  the  tailing  ground,  in 
which  case  the  method  of  planting  is  the  same  but  more  expensive. 
Usually  the  young  plants  recjuire  irrigation  for  some  length  of  time, 


No.    213.      Orange   trees   and    grapevines   growing   on    leveled    dredge   tailing,    Oroville    District, 

July,   1909. 

until  the  roots  penetrate  some  distance  into  the  moist  zone  of  the  gravel 
and  sand. 

It  was  found  in  dredging  some  land,  adjacent  to  a  tract  of  tailing 
ground,  planted  to  grapevines,  that  the  vines  had  grown  roots  in  a  few 
months,  six  to  twelve  feet  long,  extending  down  to  permanent  water 
level.  Owing  to  the  porosity  and  the  moisture  holding  capacity  of  this 
ground  alfalfa  and  grasses  seem  to  do  particularly  well,  as  the  roots  of 
these  plants  quickly  penetrate  down  to  the  permanent  water-level. 

One  of  the  exhibits  of  products  grown  upon  dredged  ground,  and 
displayed  in  the  windows  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  at  Oroville, 
showed  a  one-year-old  peach  tree,  in  a  healthy,  sturdy  condition,  having 
upon  it  a  number  of  large  Avell  formed  peaches.  Some  muscat  grapes 
seemed  to  prove  that  a  good  production  can  be  obtained  from  vines 
l)lante(l  on  dredged  lands.  An  apple  tree,  dahlias,  and  ha\'  completed 
tliis  ]>articiilar  exhil)it.  which  showed  in  a  striking  way  the  jiossiljililies 
of  reclaiming  dredged  land  for  pr<)fital)le  agricultnral  and  horticultural 
purposes. 

Successful  results  were  obtained  in  the  Folsom  district  with  (Micalyp- 


240 


GOLD  DREDGING  IX  CALIFORNIA. 


No.  214.     Grapevines  and  almond  trees  on  leveled  dredge  tailing,   Oroville  District,  July.   1909. 

tus  trees.  The  Xatomas  Consolidated  Company  planted  in  May,  1909, 
several  acres  of  leveled  dredge  tailing  to  eucalyptus  trees,  of  the  "blue 
gum"  varietv.  which  are  doing  well. 


^  i 


No.   215.      Eucalyptus  trees   planted   on   reclaimed    dredging    ground,    Folsom   District. 
Three  months  after  planting,  June,   1909. 

If  tree  planting  continues  to  prove  as  successful  as  present  exjieri- 
ments  indicate,  a  large  acreage  of  dredged  ground  will  be  useful  for 
horticultural  and  agricultural  purposes.  The  soil  of  most  of  the  dredg- 
ing lands  in  California  Avas  unproductive  and  was  of  little  value  for 


Ui 


RECLAIMING  DREDGED  LAND. 


241 


any  purpose  but  initiin.y'.  The  only  valuable  land  for  other  purposes 
Avas  located  in  the  Oroville  and  Folsom  fields.  In  the  Oroville  field  out 
of  about  (),0U0  acres  of  dredging'  land,  less  than  400  acres  were  planted 
to  fruit,  and  it  is  probable  that  not  more  than  1,000  acres  of  the  remain- 
ing portions  could  have  been  used  with  irrigation,  as  it  is  ground  of 
poor  (piality. 

Much  material  has  been  made  by  antidebris  exi)onents  over  the  de- 
struction by  dredges  of  good  orchards  in  the  Oroville  district  and  else- 
where, and  it  seems 


proper  to  state  that 
previous  to  dredg- 
ing most  of  the  vine- 
yards in  the  Oroville 
district  w  e  r  e  in- 
fested w  i  t  h  the 
almost  fatal  phyl- 
loxera. ]\Ir.  Leggett 
among  others  was 
seriously  contem- 
plating taking  up 
his  vineyard,  which 
comprises  an  area 
of  150  acres,  and 
which  is  included  in 
the  above  e.stimate 
of  400  acres  of 
planted  land  in  the 
district.  The  peach 
orchards  also  were 
not  doing  very  well, 
most  of  them  aver- 
aging* but  one  crop 
in  two  and  three 
years,  and  many  orchards  were  abandoned.  Most  ol'  tlie  ranchi's  in 
tile  district  were  heavily  mortgaged  and  it  can  not.  tlierefore.  be  said 
that  dredge  mining  has  done  much  harm  to  this  now  prosperous  locality. 
In  the  Folsom  district,  as  was  also  the  case  at  Oroville,  a  large  area 
of  the  dredging  land  had  been  worked  by  gravel  miners  previous  to 
dredging,  a  large  portion  of  the  ground  being  left  in  such  condition 
as  to  make  it  unfit  for  cultivation.  Out  of  a  total  of  about  6,000  acres 
of  dredging  land  in  this  district  not  over  2,000  acres  were  planted  to 
grapevines  and  for  every  acre  tui'ued  over  in  dredging  this  land  two 
acres  of  vines  are  planted  on  othei-  land  held  for  this  purpose.     Other 


*^^^^^ 


'Ml 


7:^v- 


^..^^; 


Orange  trees  growing  on  leveled  dredge  tailing  in 
the    Oroville   District,   July.    1909. 


16— GD 


242 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


conditions  in  this  district  were  similar  to  those  at  Oroville  previous  to 
dredging. 

On  the  Yuba  River  the  question  of  reclamation  is  of  another  nature, 
most  of  the  land  being  located  on  river  bars  covered  by  hydraulic  tail- 


No.   217.      Grapevines   growing   on   dredged   land   in   the   Oroville   District. 

ing  and  subject  to  overflow.     The  dredges  in  this  district  are  erecting 
embankments  to  confine  and  control  the  flow  of  the  Yuba  River,  this 


No.   218.     View  of  a  large  portion  of  the   Oroville   ground  previous   to   dredging. 


RECLAIMING  DREDGED  LAND. 


243 


No.   219.      View   of   ground   in   Oroville   dredging   field   before   dredging. 


No.  220.     General  view  of  dredging  ground  in  the  Folsom  District,  previous  to  dredging 
showing   old   placer   workings. 


No.  221.     Dredging  ground  in  the  Oroville   District. 


244 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


rtO 


B^ 


RECLAIMING  DREDGED  LAND. 


245 


work  being  done  on  behalf  of  the  State  of  California  and  the  United 
States.  Farm  land  being  dredged  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Yuba  River 
was  very  poor  land,  and  will  probably  produce  a  better  hay  crop  after 
the  tailing  is  leveled  than  was  possible  before  dredging. 

Dredging  ground  located  in  Placer  County  on  the  Bear  River  con- 
tains some  grazing  land,  but  most  of  the  land  is  subject  to  overflow 
and  is  covered  by  hydraulic  tailing.  In  Calaveras  County  an  area  of 
250  acres  of  dredged  land  has  been  sold  to  a  farmer  who  is  to  receive  the 


No.  223.     Apple  and  walnut  trees,  two  years  old,  on  Tewksburg  Company's  dredged  land,  near 
Bright,   New  Zealand.      Soil,   sand,   and  shingle  are  on   the  surface  of  the  former  land. 

land  in  a  level  condition  suitable  for  planting.  The  cobble-stones  were 
sold  to  a  rock-crushing  company  and  are  being  removed  from  the  prop- 
erty. In  ]\[erced  and  Stanislaus  counties  the  dredging  ground  was  of 
little  value  for  farming  purposes,  some  of  it  being  fair  grazing  land. 
In  Shasta  and  Siskiyou  counties  the  dredging  lands  were  of  no  partic- 
ular value  excepting  for  mining  purposes. 

Attempts  to  utilize  dredged  land  for  agricultural  purposes  in  New 
Zealand,  seem,  as  a  whole,  to  have  met  with  success.  In  answer  to 
inquiries  by  the  California  State  ^Mineralogist  the  inspector  of  mines, 
E.  R.  Green,  Wellington,  New  Zealand,  writes  as  follows: 

I  have  made  inquiries  from  Messi-s.  McGeorge  Bros.,  and  am  informed  that  flax 
growing  was  successfully  tried  on  restored  land,  but  owing  to  fluctuation  on  the 
market  it  was   not  likely   to   prove   remunerative.     Clover   and   timothy  grass  seed 


246 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


No.  224.     Dredged  ground  restored  to  city  property.     Oroville  District,   California. 

sowtii  on  dredge  tailing  have  been  successful,  and  on  the  occasion  of  a  visit  to 
Waikaka  by  the  Hon.  Mr.  McGowan  we  saw  a  paddock  of  50  acres  where  the  cattle 
were  grazing  on  the  dredge  tailing  thus  treated,  in  preference  to  the  original  pasture. 

Mr.  John  Turnbull,  farmer,  Waikaka,  has  informed  me  that  he  has  sold  laud 
for  mining  up  to  $100  per  acre,  and  that  after  dredging,  by  McGeorge's  sluice-box 
method  in  restoring  the  soil  as  silt  on  the  surface,  he  had  rebought  the  land  at  the 
rate  of  $15  per  acre  and  was  glad  to  get  it,  and  would  continue  giving  that  price, 
which,  he  was  satisfied,  results  would  warrant  him  in  doing. 

The  ground  so  far  worked  by  McGeorge's  dredges  at  Waikaka  has  not  exceeded 
22  feet  in  depth,  but  now  that  gold  has  been  found  in  the  false  bottom,  McGeorge 
Bros,  have  a  dredge  almost  completed  to  work  at  40  feet  from  water  level,  so  that 
it  remains  to  be  proved  whether  the  soil  can  be  successfully  restored  at  that  depth. 

With  regard  to  tree  planting  larch  trees  appear  to  have  done  the  best.  An  area 
of  four  acres  of  larches  planted  on  the  Waikaka  United  claim  seven  years  ago  are 
now  10  feet  to  20  feet  in  height. 

As  to  the  method  of  tree  planting.  The  young  trees  are  lifted  with  the  usual 
ball  of  earth  to  the  roots  and  planted  out  on  the  tailing  in  the  ordinary  way. 

The  following  are  abstracts  from  the  papers  and  reports  of  the 
Minister  of  Mines,  New  Zealand.  John  Hayes,  inspecting  engineer 
(page  16,  c.  3)  : 

There  has  been  an  outcry  in  some  quarters  about  valuable  land  being  destroyed 


RECLAIMINe  DREDGED  LAXD.  247 

for  agricultural  purposes  by  gold  dredging  operations.  This  has  undoubtedly  been 
the  case  in  a  few  instances,  but  in  others,  where  swampy  marsh  land  has  been 
dredged,  the  effect  has  been  to  drain  and  sweeten  it.  and  it  is  now  growing  sweet 
grass  and  clover  where  rank  sour  grass  and  rushes  grew  before.  At  the  same  time, 
it  can  not  be  claimed  that  this  land  has  been  left  in  anything  like  so  good  a  condition 
as  it  might  have  been  had  advance  stripping  been  practiced,  and  the  soil  and  subsoil, 
etc.,  deposited  on  the  gravel  tailing  instead  of  them  all  being  mixed  up  as  at  present. 
At  Waikaka.  Southland,  trees  have  been  planted  on  the  tailing  left  by  one  dredge 
working  on  private  land.  On  my  last  visit  to  the  locality  I  carefully  inspected  this 
plantation,  and  found  the  young  trees  healthy  and  growing  well.  The  idea  of 
planting  some  of  the  tailing  areas  which  were  formerly  swamp  lands  with  native 
flax  suggested  itself  ro  my  mind,  and  I  submit  this  as  offering  a  means  of  profitably 
utilizing  the  ground  from  which  the  alluvial  gold  has  been  won. 

No.  2  District,  A.  R.  Campbell,  inspector. 

An  Omeo  dredge  is  making  a  good  show  in  regard  to  resoiling,  this  being  mainly 
attributable  to  the  depth  and  nature  of  soil  dealt  with.  This  soil  is  stripped  in 
advance  and  sluiced  down  the  box  with  the  full  body  of  water,  but  owing  to  the 
tenacity  of  the  material,  a  fair  quantity  of  it  stays  on  the  tailing,  the  deposit  being 
in  places  4  feet  deep.  On  this  dredged  ground  there  has  this  season  been  grown  a 
crop  of  oats  on  three  acres  besides  small   plots  of  vegetables. 

That  dredged  ground  can  be  successfully  restored  to  town  property 
is  evident  as  shown  by  the  accompanying  illustration  No.  22-4  of  the 
house  of  0.  C.  Perry  of  Oroville.  California. 

This  residence  was  built  on  ground  that  had  been  dredged  and  after- 
wards leveled,  and  although  the  house  was  built  within  a  year  after  the 
ground  was  dredged,  there  is  no  evidence  of  settling,  and  the  plaster  is 
perfect  in  every  respect,  showing  no  cracks  or  flaws. 

^Ir.  Perry  considers  dredged  and  leveled  ground  very  desirable  for 
building  sites,  on  account  of  the  perfect  drainage.  He  has  also  found 
that  flowers  and  trees  grow  luxuriously  with  a  shallow  layer  of  top 
soil  over  the  cobbles. 


248 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


VII.    DEBRIS  PROBLEM. 

There  has  been  a  great  deal  of  antidebris  legislation  in  California, 
and  many  mining  operations  have  been  stopped  by  legislation  to 
protect  other  interests.  Recently  there  has  been  agitation  against 
dredge  mining,  and  the  question  raised  as  to  what  extent  dredging 
pollutes   and   obstructs  the  streams.     A   committee   appointed  by  the 


No.  225.     Feather  River,  near  Gridley  bridge. 

board  of  an  antidredge  convention  in  reporting  on  the  operations 
of  the  dredges  along  the  American  and  Yuba  rivers,  found  that  on 
each  of  these  rivers  the  dredges  are  doing  no  damage,  and  that  instead 
of  sending  down  any  debris,  much  sand  is  being  impounded  and  kept 
from  going  into  the  streams. 

On  the  Feather  River  the  same  conditions  exist  regarding  the  present 
operations  of  the  dredges,  but  in  this  district  the  early  dredge  opera- 
tions left  some  obstructions  in  the  river  which  are  said  to  cause  damage 
to  adjacent  low  lands  during  flood  times.  As  has  been  mentioned  else- 
where, the  present  dredges  in  California,  with  the  exception  of  those  on 
the  Yuba  River,  are  all  working  inland,  and  hence  the  tailing  stacks 
do  not  obstruct  the  flow  of  any  of  the  rivers.  The  dredge  cobbles  in  the 
Sacramento  Valley  have  become  valuable  since  the  advent  of  the  rock- 
crushing  plants  and  it  is  not  likely  that  any  dredge  tailing  will  remain 
very  long  where  put  by  the  dredges. 


DEBRIS  PROBLEM. 


249 


The  question  of  pollution  of  streams  by  the  spill  water  from  dredge 
ponds  is  not  a  serious  matter  in  California,  as  most  of  the  dredges 
operate  quite  a  distance  inland  from  the  rivers  and  practically  all  of  the 
dredge  water  is  impounded. 

Before  the  water  from  dredge  ponds  Avas  impounded,  the  question 
whether  the  colored  spill  water  flowing  into  the  rivers  could  have  any 
injurious  effect  upon  the  river  and  farming  interests  was  more  fre- 
quently discussed  in  the  Oroville  than  in  other  districts,  and  in  an 
eftort  to  obtain  some  exact  information  upon  this  point,  the  following 
samples  were  taken  by  H.  Appel  and  W.  S.  Xoyes  at  Oroville : 

Sample  Xo.  1.  Outflow  from  under  the  tailing  piles  at  the  bank  of 
the  Feather  River,  near  Pennsylvania  Pond,  about  10  inches  in  volume. 


No.  226.     Feather  River  below  Oroville. 


Xo.  2.  About  100  yards  down  stream  from  Xo.  1,  opposite  a  big  riffle 
in  the  river,  about  40  miner's  inches  flowing  out  from  the  cobble  piles. 

Xo.  3.  Water  crossing  from  east  of  Marysville  road  into  the  tailing 
piles  west  thereof,  near  the  dam  in  the  ditch  on  the  Pennsylvania 
ground,  and  .just  south  of  the  bridge  crossing  Gold  Run. 

Xo.  1.  Outflow  from  pit  of  El  Oro  Dredge  Xo.  1,  about  15  inches  in 
volume. 

Xo.  ').    Sample  taken  above  the  dam  in  El  Oro  Xo.  1  pond. 

Xo.  6.    Outflow  from  pond  of  El  Ore  Xo.  2  dredge. 

All  of  these  samples  were  sent  to  Abbot  A.  Hanks.  San  Francisco, 
with  instruction  to  determine  the  foreign  matter  therein,  in  grains  per 
gallon  and  in  percentages  by  weight,  and  also  to  ascertain  the  fineness 
of  the  suspended  matter.  The  following  report  on  the  foregoing  was 
received : 

Sir:  I  received  from  you  recently  six  jars  of  water  marked  Xo.  1  to  r>.  inclusive. 
Each   sample  was   mixed   by   careful   shaking,   and   a   measured   quantity,   one   litre, 


250 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIx\, 


drawn  off.     This  was  evaporated  to  dryness  and  the  weight  of  the  total  solids  deter- 
mined as  follows : 


Mark. 


Grains  per 

U.  S.  Wine 

Gallon  of 

58415  Grains 


Percentages 
by  Weight. 


1 

2 
3 

4 
5 
6 


187.783 
215.772 
274.092 
753.468 
2029.466 
1014.733 


.32  of  1% 

.37  of  1% 

.46  of  1% 

1.29  of  1% 

3.47  of  1% 

1.73  of  1% 


Experiments  were  then  made  to  determine  the  fineness  of  the  suspended  matter 
in  the  water.  In  every  sample  all  of  this  matter  passed  through  a  200-mesh  screen. 
This  mesh  is  the  finest  product  found  in  the  market,  and  contains  200  apertures  to 
the  running  inch.  The  finest  cloth  used  in  the  manufacture  of  flour  contains  only 
176  holes  to  the  running  inch,  while  the  usual  mesh  is  150. 

I  believe  that  the  only  method  of  determining  the  exact  size  of  the  particles  held 
in  suspension  in  this  water  would  be  to  measure  them  under  a  microscope  with  a 
standard  form  of  micrometei'.  The  suspended  matter  evidently  consists  of  silt  in 
its  very  finest  form. 

(Signed)  Abbot  A.  Haxks. 

The  solids  shown  in  the  above  table  included  the  solids  in  solution, 
which  are  always  present  in  river  water,  and  to  determine  these  latter, 
two  samples  of  the  clear  river  water  were  later  taken  and  their  solids 
determined.  They  averaged  8.854  grains  per  gallon:  equal  to  .0151 
per  cent.  These  amounts  deducted  from  the  corresponding  items  in  the 
table  leave  the  true  amount  of  "suspended  matter"  in  the  water  under 
consideration,  a§  shown  in  the  following  table : 


Mark. 

Grains 
per  U.  S. 

Wine 
Gallon  of 

58415 
Grains. 

Percent- 
ages bv 
Weight. 

Solids  in 
Solution 

Grains 
per 

Gallon. 

Net  Sus- 
pended 
Matter 
Grains 

per 
Gallon. 

Per  Cent 

Suspended 

Matter. 

1                                                      .    _     _     - 

187.783 
215.772 
274.092 
753.468 
2029.466 
1014.733 

.32 

.37 

.46 

1.29 

3.47 

1.73 

8.854 
8.854 
8.854 
8.854 
8.854 
8.854 

178.929 
206.918 
265.238 
744.614 

.305  of  1% 

2                                            ...--- 

.355  of  1% 

3 

.445  of  1% 

4                             

1.275  of  1% 

5                       

2020.612  '  3.455  of  1% 

6 

1005.879  :  1.71.T  of  1% 

For  the  purpose  of  determining  the  size  of  the  particles,  a  micro- 
scopical examination  of  the  sediment  was  next  made.  Mr.  Hanks' 
report  on  this  follows  : 

Sir  :  In  attempting  to  arrive  at  the  size  of  these  particles  I  have  made  a  micro- 
scopical examination  of  the  samples.  Slides  were  prepared  by  evaporating  small 
portions  of  each  sample  to  dryness,  and  the  sediment  was  measured  both  with  a 
stage  micrometer  and  an  eyepiece  micrometer.  Under  the  microscope  the  sediment 
is  seen  to  consist  of  an  infinite  number  of  particles  of  approximately  the  same  size. 
These  particles  show  a  tendency  to  cake  together  on  drying,  but  under  a  strong 
light  it  was  possible  to  see  the  individual  pieces  and  to  measure  them  with  a  fair 
degree  of  accuracy. 


DEBRIS   PROBLEM.  251 

I  find  the  particles  in  both  samples  to  vary  in  size  from  cue  one-hundredth  of  a 
millimeter  to  one  four-hundredths  of  a  millimeter.  I  have  reduced  these  measures  to 
decimals  of  an  inch,  as  follows  : 

1/100  mm .0003037  inches. 

1/100  mm .0000084  inches. 

(Signed)  Abbot  A.  Hanks. 

This  examination  shows  that  the  coarsest  particles  of  the  "suspended 
matter"  in  the  discolored  water  tlowing  into  the  river  (samples  1  and  2) 


No.   227.     Mining   on  the  headwaters  of  the   Feather  River,   Phillbrook   Creek,   Butte   County. 
Bare  boulders  show  the  effect  of  flood  waters. 

were  only  about  one  tenth  the  size  of  flour  particles  and  the  finest  but 
one  fortieth  of  the  size. 

A  careful  consideration  of  the  preceding  will  show  that  the  material 
actually  escaping  into  the  river  contained  from  .3  to  .35  of  1  per  cent 
of  this  extremely  fine  powder ;  or,  in  other  words,  but  from  178  grains 
to  209  grains  to  the  gallon. 

In  xVustralia  some  provision  for  the  study  and  abatement  of  nuisances 
of  this  sort  has  been  made  in  the  creation  of  sludge  abatement  boards. 
The  method  of  work  by  this  board  is  not  unlike  that  of  the  Interstate 
Commerce  Commission;  that  is.  eomphiints  of  nuisances  as  received  are 
investigated  by  special  agents,  followed  if  need  by  public  hearings,  and 
finally,  if  the  evidence  .justifies,  by  an  order  for  its  abatement. 

It  is  an  interesting  fact  that  the  same  complaints  regarding  dam- 
ages bv  dredges  to  farming  interests  and  rivers  are  made  in  Victoria 


252  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

as  have  been  agitated  in  California,  and  that  there,  as  here,  careful 
investigations  prove  the  complaints  essentially  groundless. 

In  the  reports  of  the  Victoria  board  for  1908,  in  one  case  of  alleged 
damage  due  to  dredging,  the  board  finds :  ' '  When  a  bucket  elevator 
dredge  was  working  a  few  years  since  in  the  bed  of  the  Goulburn,  some 
miles  below  Jamieson,  settlers  down  stream  were  unaware  of  its  pres- 
ence. We  have  found  that  local  complaints  are  principally  due  to 
erosion  of  drains  and  creek  banks. ' ' 

The  importance  of  sedimentation,  due  to  erosion  of  ditches,  roadways, 
and  to  other  disturbances  of  natural  conditions  due  to  public  works, 
is  especially  emphasized.  In  one  case  a  complaining  town  was  shown, 
by  the  testimony  of  its  own  engineer,  to  have  furnished  in  this  way  to 
the  stream  more  detritus  than  possible  from  the  mining  of  which  com- 
plaint was  made. 

The  board  further  says :  ' '  Some  of  the  farming  witnesses  object  to 
all  discoloration,  and  apparently  would  not  be  satisfied  in  summer  time 
with  water  almost  clear,  though  compelled  even  where  there  is  no  mining 
to  use  worse  water  during  winter  and  spring.  The  board  can  not  recom- 
mend the  elimination  of  a  valuable  industry  on  account  of  ill  grounded 
objections  of  persons  not  acquainted  with  the  nature  of  the  work,  many 
of  whom  would  not,  owing  to  distance  from  the  mines,  be  subject  even 
to  discoloration  of  water  by  their  operation. ' ' 

The  whole  work  of  the  Victoria  board  seems  to  indicate  that  when 
problems  like  these  are  intelligently  and  honestly  studied,  the  amount 
of  damage  is  neither  so  large  nor  the  means  of  abatement  so  difficult 
as  to  cause  serious  uneasiness. 


OTHER  DREDGING  FIELDS.  253 


VIII.    OTHER  DREDGING  FIELDS. 

Outside  of  California,  gold  dredging  is  being  carried  on  in  the  United 
States  of  America  in  North  Carolina.  Colorado,  ^Montana.  Idaho.  In 
the  states  of  Oregon  and  Nevada  there  have,  so  far,  been  no  extensive 
dredging  operations.  One  dredge  is  reported  in  southern  Oregon,  but 
is  not  thought  to  be  a  financial  success.  Some  years  ago  an  attempt 
was  made  to  dredge  ground  near  Sumpter,  in  eastern  Oregon,  but  with 
poor  results.  The  inferior  construction  of  the  dredges  used  ma,y  partly 
account  of  the  nonsuccess  of  these  operations.  In  Alaska,  considerable 
gold  dredging  is  being  done,  and  some  dredges  are  operating  success- 
fully in  the  Philippine  Islands. 

In  foreign  countries  gold  dredging  is  or  has  been  carried  on  in  the 
following  places :  Canada,  Klondyke  region,  and  British  Columbia ; 
Mexico,  in  the  states  of  Sonora  and  Sinaloa.  In  Central  America,  in 
the  State  of  Honduras,  considerable  prospecting  for  dredging  laud  is 
being  done  at  the  present  time.  In  South  America  in  the  following 
states:  Colombia,  French  and  Dutch  Guiana.  Brazil.  Argentine  Kepub- 
lic,  Chile,  Peru.  Bolivia,  and  Ecuador.  In  Australasia,  Victoria.  New 
Zealand  and  New  South  Wales.  In  India  some  dredges  are  operating 
in  Burmah.  In  Africa  con.siderable  prospecting  for  dredging  laud  is 
being  done  on  the  west  coast.  In  Europe  a  number  of  dredges  are 
operating  in  Siberia  and  the  Urals,  and  some  gold  dredging  operations 
have  been  reported  from  Servia. 

A  fuller  description  of  dredging  operations  in  some  of  these  states 
and  foreign  countries  is  given  in  the  following  pages. 

*GOLD  DREDGING  IN  MONTANA. 

The  gold  dredging  industry" owes  a  great  deal  to  ^Montana.  ]\Iany  of 
the  earl.y  problems  in  gold  dredging  were  solved  by  the  operators  at 
Bannock,  where  dredging  was  carried  on  as  early  as  1894.  At  present, 
some  of  the  largest  and  most  modern  dredges  in  the  Avorld  are  being 
operated  at  Ruby.  It  is  well  worth  while  for  those  interested  in  gold 
dredging  to  visit  Ruby,  where,  aside  from  seeing  a  number  of  features 
other  than  those  seen  in  diiferent  dredging  fields,  a  great  deal  of  useful 
infornuition  can  be  ol)tained.  The  dredge  operators  at  Ruby,  tliough 
isolated,  and  not  in  contact  with  other  dredge  operators,  show  little 
provimialism.  and  are  generous  in  giving  information  to  strangers. 

The  principal  dredging  field  in  ^Montana  is  located  at  an  altitude  of 
about  5,200  feet  above  sea  level,  in  Ruby  Valley,  IMadison  County,  at  a 

•A  portion  of  this  article  is  taken  from  a  paper  by  J.  P.  Hutthins  in  the  Engineer- 
ing and  Mining  Journal. 


254 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


place   just    be- 
low where  Alder 
(rulch    leaves    a 
narrow     canyon 
in    breaking 
from  the  moun- 
tains.      There 
are   two    dredg- 
ing     companies 
in    the    district, 
the      C  o  n  r  e  y 
Placer  ]\Iining 
Company   and 
the   Poor   Farm 
Placer  iMining 
Company.    Both 
companies     are 
under  the  same 
general  manage- 
ment  and   have 
the  same  stock- 
holders.   Har- 
vard University 
inherited   from 
the  late  Colonel 
Gordon    McKay 
a  large  interest 
in    b  0  t  h    com- 
panies, and  it  is 
estimated   that 
during   the   life 
of    the    mines 
Harvard   Uni- 
versity will  have 
profited    to    the 
extent    of   from 
$1,500,000    to 
$2,000,000. 

Alder  Gulch 
was  one  of  the 
rich  placer  de- 
posits discovered 
m  the  early  six- 
ties. In  13  miles 
of    its    course. 


OTHER  DREDGING  FIELDS. 


255 


over  an  average  width  of  al)Out  300  feet  and  an  average  depth  of  about 
20  feet,  it  has  produced  a  gross  yield  estimated  by  various  authorities 
at  from  .$75,000,000  to  $150,000,000.  The  expensive  methods  of  rocking 
and  liand-sluicing  material,  which  was  mined  by  open-cutting  with  hand 
shoveling  (often  with  ground  sluic  ing  of  overburden),  when  the  nuiterial 
was  shallow,  or  by  drifting  and  hoisting  to  the  sluices  when  it  was  deep, 
were  used.  Attempts  have  been  nuide  to  work  parts  of  the  gulch  gravel 
with  varioiLs  types  of  mechanical  excavators,  but  not  with  success. 

The  gravel  of  Ruby  Valley  ranges  in  depth  from  30  feet  to  60  feet, 
the  depth  increases  with  the  slopeof  the  bedrock,  in  a  westerly  direction. 
In  character  the  gravel  is  coarse  and  compact,  carrying,  in  places,  con- 
siderable sticky  clay  and  many  large  boulders.  The  bedrock  is  an 
extremely  tenacious  clay;  varying  in  color  from  light  cream  to  dark 
brown,  and  seeming  to  owe  its  origin  to  deposition  of  tufa  and  volcanic 
ash  in  slow  moving  or  still  water.  It  resembles  the  Oroville  bottom, 
but  is  more  tenacious  and  sticky,  although  generally  smooth,  with 
but  gentle  undulations.  There  is  no  particular  concentration  of  gold  on 
or  near  the  bedrock;  these  features  and  the  circumstance  that  when 
any  considera1)le  volume  of  it  is  excavated  by  the  buckets  it  must  be 
pried  or  dug  out  of  them  (for  it  will  not  discharge)  make  it  not  only 
unnecessary,  but  undesirable  to  attempt  more  than  to  skim  the  liedrock 
very  slightly. 

There  is  a  marked  contrast  between  the  bottoms  of  Alder  Gulch  and 
its  delxnichment.  Not  only  are  they  different  in  that  one  is  said  to  be 
rough,  "true"  bedrock,  with  deep  crevices,  while  the  other  is  a  smooth 
"false"  bedrock  without  cracks,  but  in  the  gulch  a  marked  concentra- 
tion and  penetration  of  gold  have  been  noted,  while  absence  of  these 
features  is  observed  in  the  dredging  area. 

The  Ruby  Valley  gravels  were  prospected  by  means  of  drills  and  on 
part  of  the  property  the  test  holes  were  put  down  150  feet  apart  and 
staggered  on  lines  200  feet  apart,  while  a  large  portion  of  the  property 
was  divided  into  rectangles  330  by  660  feet  and  test  holes  sunk  at  the 
corners.  The  gold  is  840  to  860  fine.  Its  coarseness  varies;  about  40 
to  50  per  cent  passing  through  a  60-mesh,  and  about  15  to  30  per  cent 
passing  through  a  100-niesh  screen.  Much  of  the  gold  is  subangular 
and  is  coarse  in  comparison  with  the  gold  of  the  California  dredging 
fields.  It  resembles  the  gold  from  Alder  Gulch,  showing  the  same  rela- 
tion to  it  as  observed  elsewhere  between  gold  of  debouchments  and  that 
of  the  creeks  above  them.  The  average  gold  content  is  about  25  cents 
per  cubic  yard. 

Attempts  to  work  the  gulch  gravel  with  mechanical  excavators  other 
llian  I)ucket  elevator  dredges  did  not  prove  successful.  One  of  the 
early  devices  used  consisted  of  a  cal)lewav  to  wliidi  was  attached  a 


256 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


o.  o 


OTHER    DREDGING    FIELDS.  257 

bucket  or  drag  scraper,  that  excavated  the  gravel  as  it  was  dragged 
across  the  cuts.  The  full  bucket  was  trammed  on  the  cableway  to  a 
stationary  sluice  mounted  on  a  structural  frame  high  enough  above 
the  ground  to  allow  of  grade  and  dump  room  for  the  tailing. 

The  plant,  requiring  over  30  men  to  run  it,  and  costing  about  30 
cents  per  cubic  yard  to  operate,  was  too  expensive,  and  handling  only 
about  500  cubic  yards  per  2-1  hours,  was  too  limited  in  capacity.  Like 
numerous  other  placer  mining  plants  of  but  slight  mobility,  resultant 
low  capacity  and  high  cost  prevented  successful  operation. 

The  first  attempts  to  dredge  the  deposit  included  an  excavator  with 
an  orange-peel  bucket.  The  excavating  machinery  was  mounted  on  a 
large  car  and  track  to  permit  movement ;  and  a  long  boom  was  installed 
to  enable  discharge  of  the  material  from  the  bucket  into  a  high  hopper 
and  washing  machine,  also  mounted  on  a  car.  This  installation  was  a 
failure ;  while  possessing  the  many  faults  common  to  placer  mining 
machines  mounted  on  cars,  it  was  also  incapable  of  excavating  the 
tenacious  gravel.    Attempts  to  work  it  were  soon  abandoned. 

The  first  bucket  elevator  dredge  in  the  district  was  the  "]Maggie 
Gibson."  This  machine  was  of  the  double-lift  tj^pe,  equipped  with  tail 
sluices  and  tail  scow.  It  was  first  successfully  operated  at  Bannock, 
Montana,  and  was  reerected  in  Ruby  Valley,  and  put  in  operation  on 
leased  ground  belonging  to  the  Conrey  Placer  Mining  Company,  where 
it  operated  for  five  years  until  the  lease  expired.  The  general  equipment 
of  the  dredge  consisted  of  5-cubic-foot  open-connected  buckets,  weighing 
eacli  600  pounds.  The  upper  tumbler  was  driven  by  a  sprocket  wheel, 
and  the  tumbler  shaft  was  8  inches  in  diameter.  The  material  after 
being  raised  by  tlie  buckets  to  a  height  of  about  17  feet  above  water  line, 
passed  through  a  chain-driven  revolving  screen,  having  4-inch  by  5-inch 
openings.  The  fine  material  and  gold  going  through  the  screen  openings 
was  collected  in  a  sump  in  the  hull  of  the  dredge,  from  whence  it  was 
elevated  by  a  12-inch  centrifugal  pump  to  a  sluice  about  80  feet  long, 
extending  a  distance  behind  the  dredge.  The  coarse  gravel  and  boulders 
passing  out  through  the  screen  were  dumped  in  the  pond  on  the  side  of 
the  dredge.  Wooden  spuds  48  inches  by  48  inches  were  used  to  hold 
the  dredge  in  place  while  digging. 

In  1899  the  Conrey  Placer  Alining  Company  installed  a  single-lift, 
6-eubic-foot.  open-connected-bucket  elevator  dredge,  equipped  with  tail 
sluices  and  tail  scow.  The  material  was  elevated  to  a  height  of  about 
30  feet  above  water  line  and  dumped  into  a  revolving  screen,  liaving 
5-inch  openings.  The  coarse  gravel  and  Imulders  passing  through  the 
screen  were  dumped  in  the  pond  on  both  sides  of  the  dredge  by  means 
of  chutes,  the  fine  material  and  gold  passed  to  a  sluice  having  a  7  per 
cent  grade.    This  sluice  was  140  feet  long,  52  inches  wnde,  and  actuated 

17 — on 


258  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

at  the  stern,  the  outboard  part  120  feet  long  being  sustained,  on  an 
auxiliary  scow.  The  sluice  was  divided  into  two  parts  by  a  longi- 
tudinal partition  (to  allow  continuous  running  in  one  half  of  it  while 
the  other  half  was  being  cleaned  up).  This  partition  was  removed 
principally  because  unequal  distribution  of  material  on  the  two  sides 
of  the  partition,  due  to  listing,  gave  poor  results. 

The  hull  of  the  dredge  was  100  by  44  by  7  feet,  with  a  draft  of  5.25 
feet.  It  was  equipped  with  three  70  horsepower  boilers,  one  14-inch 
and  one  10-inch  centrifugal  pump  lifting  24  feet.  The  6-cubic-foot 
buckets,  weighing  each  700  pounds,  were  of  weak  construction  and  were 
later  replaced  by  7i/2-cubic-foot  buckets  weighing  each  1,400  pounds. 

A  second  dredge  was  equipped  with  10-cubic-foot  buckets,  200,000 
feet  of  lumber,  board  measure,  were  used  in  the  construction  of  the  hull, 
which  was  made  100  feet  long,  44  feet  wide,  and  7  feet  deep,  with  a 
draught  of  5  feet.  The  tail  sluice  Avas  4  feet  3  inches  wide  and  2  feet  4 
inches  deep.  Two  100-horsepower  boilers  were  mounted  on  the  hull. 
The  Conrey  Company  later  discarded  these  two  dredges  and  substi- 
tuted for  them  two  modern  electric  driven  dredges,  built  by  the  Marion 
Steam  Shovel  Company. 

In  September,  1906,  the  Poor  Farm  Placer  Mining  Company  put  in 
operation  a  15-cubic-foot  open-connected-bucket  elevator  dredge.  The 
hull  of  this  dredge  was  made  130  feet  long,  48  feet  wide,  7i/4  feet  deep, 
400,000  feet  of  lumber  being  used  in  its  construction.  The  digging 
motor  has  a  rated  capacity  of  150  horsepower,  and  is  located  on  a  steel 
superstructure  directly  behind  the  upper  tumbler.  This  motor  is 
geared  to  the  upper  tumbler  shaft  through  two  intermediate  shafts, 
a  slipping  friction  and  a  circuit-breaker  set  at  about  300  horsepower. 
This  dredge  was  equipped  with  a  tail  sluice  66  inches  wide  and  135  feet 
long,  being  on  a  7  per  cent  grade,  and  paved  with  strap  longitudinal 
and  transverse  angle-iron  riffles.  Clean-ups  on  all  the  dredges  are  made 
every  ten  days.  This  dredge  Avas  designed  by  the  late  Julius  Baier, 
former  general  manager  for  the  company.  Its  average  record  for  the 
past  three  years,  up  to  1910,  has  been  90,000  cubic  yards  per  month. 

In  1907  the  Conrey  No.  1  dredge,  with  7i/4-cubic-foot  buckets,  was 
reported  to  dig  an  average  of  about  1,800  cubic  yards  per  day;  No.  2 
dredge,  with  10-cubic-foot  buckets,  2,300  cubic  yards  per  day ;  and  the 
Poor  Farm  dredge,  with  15-cubic-foot  buckets,  an  average  of  3.300 
cubic  yards  per  day  at  a  cost  of  about  10  cents  per  cubic  yard  for  the 
Conrey  dredges  and  6V2  cents  per  cubic  yard  for  the  Poor  Farm 
dredge,  including  depreciation,  salaries,  general  expenses,  etc.  While 
these  yardage  figures  seem  small  as  judged  by  Californian  standards, 
it  must  be  remembered  that  there  is  a  difference  in  the  character  of  the 
respective  gravels. 

As  the  Conrey  Company  does  its  own  repairing,  etc.,  it  has  installed 


OTHER  DREDGING  FIELDS.  259 

a  shop  having,  besides  the  common  tools,  a  250-ton  hydraulic  press. 
In  the  gold  dredges  at  Ruby,  experience  with  the  buckets,  tumblers, 
and  ladders  has  been  similar  to  that  of  other  dredging  districts,  and 
from  the  light  buckets  first  used  were  evolved  the  later  7.5-cubic-foot 
bucket,  weighing  1,400  pounds,  with  ij^-iwch  pins,  the  10-cubic-foot 
bucket  on  No.  2  dredge,  weighing  2,100  pounds,  with  4%-inch  pins,  and 
15-cubic-foot  bucket  on  the  Poor  Farm  dredge,  weighing  2,800  pounds, 
with  5%-inch  pins.  Manganese  steel  pins  and  bushings  were  first  used 
and  various  other  steel  alloys  have  been  tried;  but  now  locomotive-tire 
steel  pins  and  manganese  steel  bushings  are  used  with  good  results. 
Complete  spare  bucket  chains  are  kept  on  hand  and  each  chain  is  con- 
sidered and  treated  as  a  unit  in  repairing  and  renewing.  This  method 
has  for  its  object  maintaining  a  uniform  bucket  pitch  in  all  the  elements 
of  the  chain  and  thus  preventing  excessive  wear  on  the  bucket  bottoms 
and  tumbler  faces  by  slipping,  as  results  when  the  uniformity  of  pitch 
is  destroyed.  Bucket  pins  and  bushings  have  been  designed  and  used  at 
Ruby  so  that  their  life  bears  a  certain  relation  to  each  other,  thus  per- 
mitting systematic  methods  in  renewals. 

Some  experimenting  was  carried  on  with  close-connected  buckets  on 
the  7.5-cubic-foot  dredge.  The  opinion  is  that  the  close-connected 
buckets  will  dig  with  less  power  per  cubic  yard  excavated,  will  dig  more 
per  unit  of  weight  of  the  digging  apparatus,  will  dig  with  less  surging, 
will  dig  with  less  wear  and  tear  per  cubic  yard  excavated,  and  will  thus 
be  more  economical  and  reduce  operating  cost.  Indicator  cards  also 
showed  an  increase  of  about  17  per  cent  in  the  power  required  to  dig 
the  indurated  bottom  gravel  over  that  needed  in  loose  top  material. 

The  Poor  Farm  dredge  has  an  8-cubic-foot  close-connected-bucket 
line  which  is  being  used  part  of  the  time.  New  elose-connected-bueket 
lines  of  9i/o-cubic-foot  capacity  are  about  to  be  installed  on  the  Courey 
and  Poor  Farm  dredges,  one  such  bucket  line  being  alread.y  in  use. 

Teeth  of  numerous  types,  with  different  shapes  and  angles  of  the 
biting  edges,  have  been  tried,  but  all  have  been  discarded  after  a  great 
deal  of  experimenting,  as  it  was  found  that  they  gave  no  noticeable  aid 
in  excavating.  Bucket  rollers  of  various  materials  have  been  tried, 
manganese  steel  being  one  of  the  alloys ;  white  iron  is  now  used.  Bucket 
lips  of  cast  manganese  steel  are  used ;  those  for  the  15-cubic-foot 
buckets  weigh  500  pounds  each.  Considerable  experimenting  has  been 
done  with  bucket  castings;  in  one  instance  annealed  and  unannealed 
castings  were  used  in  the  same  bucket  chain ;  no  difference  in  wearing 
quality  and  strength  was  distinguished. 

A  successful  means  has  been  evolved  for  keeping  the  lower  tumbler 
boxes  lubricated.  Protecting  rings  on  the  tumbler  boxes,  so  arranged 
as  to  take  the  side  thrust  of  the  tumbler  while  side  feeding,  have 
angular  spaces  which  are  packed  with  flax  packing;  the  outer  ends  of 


260  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

the  boxes  are  capped.  Engine  oil  is  used  with  good  results.  The  bear- 
ings of  the  rollers  on  the  bucket  ladder  are  also  protected  and  lubri- 
cated in  a  similar  way. 

A  device  for  preventing  the  loss  of  material  spilled  from  the  buckets 
is  in  successful  operation  on  all  the  dredges.  The  two  sides  of  the 
ladder  are  connected  on  the  bottom  faces  by  a  sheet  and  a  stream  of 
water  from  the  upper  end  keeps  this  clean.  Material  washed  down  is 
discharged  on  both  sides  of  the  buckets  about  to  round  the  lower 
tumbler  by  a  device  similar  in  shape  to  the  roof  of  a  house,  and  at  such 
a  point  as  to  insure  its  being  picked  up  in  feeding  laterally. 

The  save-alls,  also  called  "deck  sluices,"  save  about  5  per  cent  of  all 
the  gold  recovered.  This  again  shows  the  result  of  the  clay  content 
preventing  easy  discharge.  Wood  was  originally  used;  coal  is  had  at 
the  dredges  for  $4.90  per  ton,  and  electricity  at  about  1  cent  per  kilo- 
watt hour  is  available.  About  15  tons  of  coal  were  burned  per  day  per 
dredge. 

It  has  been  found  that  electric  power  is  superior  to  steam  bj^  com- 
paring the  working  of  the  new  dredges  with  that  of  the  old  ones.  It 
has  a  steadier,  surer  pull,  with  much  less  stalling  action,  and  but  slight 
variation  in  the  chain  speed  in  hard  digging  is  noted.  The  buckets  seem 
to  fill  more  satisfactorily  and  there  is  much  less  racking,  jerking  and 
jarring.  The  ammeter  of  the  digging  motor  fluctuates  between  130  and 
150  kilowatts.  It  may  be  said  that,  from  the  mechanical  and  economical 
view  points,  electricity  is  superior  to  steam  in  the  dredging  operations 
at  Ruby. 

The  Conrey  Mining  Company  has  now  two  7i/^-cubic-foot  Inicket 
elevator  dredges,  electrically  driven,  constructed  by  the  Marion  Steam 
Shovel  Company.  These  dredges  are  of  the  California  type,  equipped 
with  gold-saving  tables  and  tailing  stacker.  It  is  said  that  as  far  as 
can  be  estimated,  the  percentage  of  gold  saving  is  about  the  same  as  on 
the  sluice  boats,  and  the  operating  costs  of  the  two  types  of  dredges, 
character  of  ground  being  considered,  is  about  the  same.  The  dredges 
have  averaged  82,000  cubic  yards  per  month,  and  during  the  year  1909 
the  working  costs  and  general  management  has  been  about  6I/2  cents 
per  cubic  yard.  The  repair  and  replacement  charge  is  about  40  per  cent 
of  the  total  expense. 

A  general  description  of  one  of  the  above  dredges,  which  is  shown  in 
the  illustration  on  page  254,  is  as  follows :  Digging  depth  below  water 
line,  27  feet ;  length  of  bucket  ladder,  72  feet ;  number  of  buckets,  60 ; 
capacity,  each  7I/2  cubic  feet;  pitch  of  buckets,  32%  inches;  diameter 
of  bucket  pins,  4%  inches. 

The  hull  is  98  feet  long  9  feet  deep  and  44  feet  wide,  having  a  deck 
surface  of  50  feet  wide.  The  draught  is  about  6  feet.  The  center  of 
upper  tumbler  shaft  from  deck  is  25  feet  9  inches.    The  screen  is  of  the 


OTHER  DREDGING  FIELDS.  261 

telescope  type  and  is  35  feet  5  inches  long,  6  feet  in  diameter  at  the 
upper  end  and  4  feet  3  inches  in  diameter  at  the  lower  end. 

Length  of  stacker  90  feet  between  centers.  Width  of  stacker  belt  32 
inches.  The  stacker,  as  can  be  seen  in  the  illustration,  is  covered  over, 
in  order  to  protect  the  belt,  rollers  and  roller  bearings  from  the  cold 
weather  in  winter. 

The  Marion  Steam  Shovel  Company  is  now  constructing  a  15-cubic- 
foot  bucket  elevator  dredge  for  the  Conrey  Mining  Company,  which 
will  be  put  in  operation  in  1910.  This  dredge  is  designed  for  a  capacity 
of  300,000  cubic  yards  per  month.  There  will  be  eighty  15-cubic-foot 
buckets  in  line,  Aveighing  each  4,200  pounds.  The  stacker  will  be  138 
feet  long  and  the  spuds  weigh  45  tons  each.  The  motor  equipment  of 
the  dredge  will  have  a  rated  capacity  of  1,050  horsepower. 

It  is  expected  that  the  cost  of  dredging  with  the  new  9i  ^-cubic-foot 
buckets  will  not  exceed  5^  cents  per  cubic  yard  and  A^-ith  the  new 
15-cubic-foot  bucket  dredge  about  414>  cents  per  cubic  yard. 

The  Ruby  dredges  are  the  first  to  run  throughout  the  winter  in  such 
a  cold  climate.  Formerly  it  was  thought  that  a  dredge  must  be  shut 
down  about  the  time  other  placer  mining  operations  ceased,  and  it  was 
because  of  this  belief,  rather  than  any  other  reason,  that  dredges  in 
many  instances  were  idle  during  four  or  five  months  each  year. 

It  is  not  an  easy  matter  to  operate  during  the  coldest  weather,  when 
the  thermometer  is  25  to  35  degrees  below  zero  Fahrenheit.  The  steam 
dredges  have  warmed  their  ponds  with  the  water  of  condensation  and 
have  also  used  live  steam  in  combating  frost  and  ice.  Ice  is  also  chopped 
from  the  sides,  ladder  and  chutes.  The  dredges  are  manipulated  during 
the  cold  weather  so  as  to  keep  the  parts  most  likely  to  freeze  well 
exposed  to  the  sun.  The  ground  to  be  dredged  is  kept  flooded  and 
thus  does  not  freeze,  and  the  dredge  pond  does  not  freeze  if  operation 
is  continuous.  Amalgamation  is  not  as  rapid  when  the  water  is  cold, 
but  this  does  not  seem  to  affect  the  extraction  materially.  The  amalgam 
is  softer  and  it  takes  more  mercury  to  do  the  same  amount  of  work 
during  cold  weather. 

During  the  winter  of  1907,  the  coldest  in  many  years,  the  temperature 
was  continuously  near  zero  during  January  and  at  times  as  much  as 
30  degrees  below  zero  Fahrenheit.  The  temperature  of  the  dredge  pond 
was  34  degrees  Fahrenheit  and  the  pond  was  kept  from  freezing  over  at 
times  only  by  moving  the  dredge  about.  It  was  extremely  difficult  to 
dig  into  the  corners  of  the  cut  by  reason  of  the  largo  accumulations  of 
floating  ice. 

The  ice  accumulation  on  the  hull  made  the  No.  3  dredge  draw  more 
water  and  reduced  its  freeboard  at  times  to  about  25  per  cent  of  the 
normal  draught  of  the  dredge.  Ice  accumulated  to  such  a  depth  on  the 
ladder  tliat  the  ladder  rollers  were  out  of  sight  and  the  buckets  slid 


262  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

over  ice.  Sheaves  froze  solidly,  frozen  material  accumulated  in  the 
hopper,  the  outboard  pump  suctions  froze  if  the  dredge  was  shut  down 
for  long,  and  inside  small  pipes  and  valves  froze  and  burst.  In  January 
about  5  per  cent  of  the  total  lost  time  was  due  to  the  excessive  cold ;  the 
Jredge  operated  72  per  cent  of  the  time  during  the  month  of  January. 
The  Poor  Farm  dredge  has  a  boiler  and  steam  piping  to  provide  warmth 
for  the  dredge  men,  hot  water  for  clean-ups,  and  heat  for  the  false- 
bottomed  sluice. 

In  January  1.7  kilowatt  hours  of  electricity  per  cubic  yard  were  used. 
In  April  only  1.25  kilowatt  hours  were  consumed,  but  the  material 
excavated  was  less  indurated.  The  total  amount  dredged  in  January, 
1907,  was  81,000  cubic  yards  in  539  hours;  the  total  for  April  was 
108.000  cubic  yards  in  599  hours. 

Elsewhere  in  ^Montana  a  5%-cubic-foot  open-connected  Risdon  type 
bucket  elevator  dredge,  electrically  driven,  is  operating  at  Rocker,  near 
Butte,  in  Silverbow  County.  A  number  of  years  ago  a  tail  sluice  dredge 
was  operating  on  Gold  Creek  in  Powell  County,  but  whether  this  dredge 
is  now  in  operation  is  not  known.  No  dredging  is  being  done  at  present 
on  Grasshopper  Creek,  near  Bannock,  in  Beaverhead  County.  Con- 
siderable prospecting  for  dredging  ground  has  been  done  in  Montana, 
but  it  is  understood  from  men  interested  at  Ruby  that  so  far  no  suc- 
cessful results  have  been  obtained. 

DREDGING  AT  BRECKENRIDGE,  COLORADO.* 

Breckenridge,  the  county  seat  of  Summit  County,  Colorado,  is  located 
112  miles  southwest  of  Denver,  on  the  South  Park  branch  of  the 
Colorado  and  Southern  railroad.  The  elevation  is  9,600  feet  above  sea 
level.  The  Breckenridge  district  embraces  the  valleys  of  the  Blue, 
Swan,  and  Snake  rivers,  together  with  the  drainage  basins  of  their 
tributaries.  These  streams  head  on  the  w^estern  side  of  the  main  range 
of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  consequently  drain  to  the  Pacific. 

In  the  present  bed  of  the  streams,  and  along  their  flood  plains,  are 
deposits,  varjdng  in  width  from  100  yards  to  a  mile  in  places.  These 
are  known  as  ''river  gravels."  They  contain  many  water- worn  rocks 
from  6  to  8  inches  in  diameter,  with  occasional  boulders  as  large  as  3 
feet  in  diameter.  In  the  Blue  and  Swan  river  gravels,  which  are  com- 
pact and  cemented  by  clay,  porphyry  is  the  predominant  rock. 

The  gravel  varies  considerably  in  depth  in  different  places,  as  it 
appears  to  have  been  deposited  on  an  uneven  floor.  Near  Breckenridge, 
at  the  Gold  Pan  workings,  the  depth  is  76  feet  to  bedrock;  at  Dillon, 
seven  miles  down  the  Blue  river,  it  is  79  feet  to  bedrock ;  between  these 
points  in  the  Blue  and  up  the  Swan  rivers  the  depth  is  from  40  to  45 

♦Abstract  from  a  paper  by  A.  H.  Bradford  and  Roy  P.  Curtis,  Colorado  School  of 

Mines. 


OTIIEK   DREDGING  FIELDS.  26'S 

feet.  The  Upper  Blue  River  above  Breckenridge  shows  but  little  evi- 
dence of  the  influence  of  waters  after  their  glacial  deposition.  The 
deposits  are  very  deep,  the  boulders  large,  while  the  gold  is  coarse  and 
shows  little  action  of  water  wear.  The  large  boulders  were  the  prime 
cause  of  the  failure  of  an  extensive  enterprise  on  the  Gold  Pan  placer 
deposit.  The  bedrock  of  the  dredging  area  consists  principally  of  either 
porphyry  or  shale,  or  shale  traversed  by  dikes  of  porphyry.  The  shale 
is  often  nearly  horizontal.  Most  of  the  gold  is  generally  found  on  or 
in  the  oxidized  shattered  porphyry  or  on  top  of  the  shale,  but  gold  is 
found  from  the  "grass  roots"  to  bedrock,  and  sometimes  for  a  few 
inches  or  feet  into  the  bedrock. 

The  pay-streaks  occur  in  channels,  not  continuous,  and  the  coui*se  and 
dimensions  of  which  can  be  ascertained  only  by  drilling  or  prospecting 
by  shafts.  The  gold  is  coarse  rather  than  fine,  due  perhaps  to  not  hav- 
ing traveled  far  from  its  source.  Large  nuggets  are  uncommon,  but 
small  ones  half  an  inch  to  an  inch  long  and  generally  flattened  are  not 
rare.  The  fineness  of  the  gold  ranges  from  $17  to  $18  per  ounce.  Black 
sand  occurs  in  considerable  quantity,  and  is  said  to  have  a  smelting  value 
of  $75  per  ton.  The  black  sand  is  not  all  magnetite.  Much  of  the  gold  is 
coated  by  iron  oxide  and  therefore  does  not  amalgamate. 

While  in  former  years  the  "bench  gravels"  have  been  extensively 
worked  it  is  the  lower  river  gravels  that  are  now  being  worked  by 
modern  placer  mining  methods.  The  early  dredges  built  here  were  not 
adapted  to  the  nature  of  the  ground,  being  too  light  for  the  successful 
handling  of  the  stiff  cemented  gravels  and  the  boulders.  Large  quanti- 
ties of  black  sand  proved  a  great  hindrance,  especially  on  the  gold- 
saving  tables,  where,  owing  to  its  specific  gravity,  it  chocked  the  riffles 
and  prevented  the  catching  of  gold  in  them.  The  hydraulic  elevator, 
the  clam-shell  dredge,  and  other  light  constructed  dredges  have  all 
proved  failures,  and  have  been  succeeded  by  the  latest  and  most  power- 
ful California  type  of  dredges,  which  have  proved  successful  in  the 
economical  handling  of  the  gravel  and  efficient  saving  of  the  gold. 

Between  1897  and  1900  the  North  American  Dredging  Company 
operated  three  dredges  on  the  Swan  River.  In  1907  this  company 
reorganized  into  what  is  now  known  as  the  Colorado  Gold  Dredging 
Company,  and  the  construction  of  two  powerful  California  type  dredges 
at  the  junction  of  the  Swan  and  the  Blue  rivers  marked  a  new  era  for 
this  company. 

The  Reliance  Gold  Mining  Company  operates  a  dredge  in  French 
Gulch,  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  Breckenridge.  It  is  the  oldest 
machine  in  the  district,  and  has  been  in  successful  use  for  five  years. 
The  conditions  mot  with  in  the  immediate  vicinity  are:  (1)  Coarse 
gravel  and  small  rock  fragments.  (2)  Large  boulders.  (3)  Streaks 
of  sticky  clay  cai-rying  the  greater  portion  of  llic  gold.     These  streaks 


264  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

must  be  disintegrated  before  the  gold  can  be  saved.  (4)  Much  of  the 
gold  is  coarse  and  rusty  and  will  not  amalgamate,  and  (5)  much  heavy 
black  iron  sand  tends  to  clog  the  riffles.  The  Reliance  dredge  was  ori- 
ginally driven  by  steam  and  was  of  the  double-lift  open-connected  bucket 
type.  During  the  season  of  1909  the  motive  power  was  changed  to 
electricity,  and  the  dredge  remodeled.  Before  i-emodeling  the  dredge 
extraction  was  effected  by  means  of  a  sluice  120  feet  long  by  4  feet 
wide,  extending  behind  the  stern  of  the  dredge  and  supported  on  inde- 
pendent pontoons.  The  chief  objection  to  this  arrangement  was  that 
there  were  no  means  for  stacking  the  tailing,  and  the  tailing  pile  soon 
encroached  upon  the  unworked  ground  necessitating  rehandling.  In 
remodeling,  the  dredge  w^as  equipped  with  a  tailing  stacker  and  the 
riffle  tables,  in  place  of  the  sluice  flume,  were  placed  on  board  of  the 
main  hull,  thus  putting  the  gold-saving  device  wholly  on  board  the  boat 
and  allowing  the  tailing  to  be  stacked  far  enough  behind  the  dredge 
so  that  there  is  no  danger  of  their  impeding  the  operations  of  the  dredge. 

By  the  addition  of  a  heating  appliance  for  the  inside  of  the  dredge 
and  for  the  exposed  parts  of  the  digging  ladder  the  necessity  for  closing 
down  during  the  past  winter  season  was  avoided,  the  Reliance  dredge 
now  being  able  to  run  all  the  year  round.  This  heating  is  an  important 
factor  for  consideration,  since  the  months  from  November  to  February 
are  severe.  Heat  is  generated  by  a  30-horsepower  boiler,  and  as  one 
cord  of  wood  lasts  about  two  days  the  cost  of  heating  is  not  excessive. 

The  electric  power  for  operating  the  dredge  is  delivered  through  an 
insulated  cable  from  a  portable  transformer  on  shore.  Alternating  cur- 
rent of  13,000  volts  is  stepped  down  to  440  at  this  transformer. 

The  Colorado  Gold  Dredging  Company  has  two  Bucyrus  dredges  at 
Valdoro,  five  miles  down  the  Blue  River  from  Breckenridge.  One  is 
working  down  stream  in  the  Blue  River,  the  other  up  stream  in  the 
Swan.  These  dredges  have  operated  but  one  season.  The  dredge  work- 
ing up  the  Swan  River  is  designed  to  dig  38  feet  below  the  surface  of 
the  water  and  the  other  48  feet.  The  latter  dredge  has  worked  down 
the  Swan  River  and  is  now  at  the  junction  of  the  Swan  and  Blue  rivers, 
and  will  continue  down  the  Blue  River.  Both  dredges  are  of  the  open- 
connected  single-lift  bucket  elevator  type.  The  material  is  excavated 
and  lifted  but  once,  and  progresses  by  gravity  from  the  time  it  leaves 
the  bucket  until  it  is  discharged  back  into  the  pit  as  waste.  There  are 
42  91/4-cubic-foot  buckets  and  42  links  in  the  chain,  and  the  dredge  is 
said  to  handle  3,000  yards  per  day  of  24  hours. 

The  electric  power  for  operating  the  motors  is  supplied  by  the  Central 
Colorado  Power  Company.  The  total  rated  horsepower  on  each  dredge 
is  about  430.  The  electric  power  is  transformed  from  13,000  volts  down 
to  440  volts  before  being  brought  on  board  the  boat.  The  motors  operate 
at  440  volts  and  the  lighting  system  at  110.    The  motors  used  are  main 


OTHER  DREDGING  FIELDS.  265 

drive  or  digging  motor,  200-horsepower ;  sand  pump  motor.  75-horse- 
power ;  water  pump  motor,  75-horsepo\ver ;  stacker,  winch,  and  trommel 
drive  motor,  25-horsepower ;  stacker  motor,  20-horsepower ;  winch  motor, 
20-hoi'sepoAver ;  and  deck  pump  motor,  15-horsepower. 

The  hull  is  115  feet  long,  40  feet  6  inches  wide  and  9  feet  deep.  The 
sides  are  curved  inward  at  the  forward  end,  making  the  bow  26  feet 
wide,  and  the  well  is  6  feet  6  inches  wide.  Both  the  digging  and  walk- 
ing spuds  are  made  of  structural  steel,  with  extra  heavy  cast  steel  points. 
The  walking  spud  weighs  24.000  pounds  and  the  digging  spud  45,000 
pounds. 

The  Colorado  Gold  Dredging  Company  dredged  during  the  last  season 
at  a  cost  of  8  cents  per  cubic  yard,  everj-thing  included,  and  as  nearly 
as  can  be  ascertained  the  average  saving  was  from  12  to  14  cents  per 
yard.  The  gold  saving  under  the  best  conditions  is  estimated  to  reach 
80  per  cent. 

GOLD  DREDGING  IN  IDAHO  -BOISE  BASIN. 

The  Boston-Idaho  Gold  Dredging  Company  moved  a  dredge  of  3.000 
yards  daily  capacity  from  Yreka,  California,  to  their  property  below 
Idaho  City.  A  hydro-electric  power  plant  on  the  south  fork  of  the 
Payette  River,  wath  a  rated  capacity  of  about  1,400-horsepower.  trans- 
mits power  about  fifteen  miles  to  the  dredge. 

This  company  is  having  a  dredge  of  9.000  cubic  yards  daily  capacity 
designed  for  the  same  ground,  w^hich  is  quite  extensive  and  is  said  to 
contain  average  values,  of  16  cents  per  cubic  yard.  The  property  of  the 
Boston  and  Idaho  Gold  Dredging  Compau}^  belonged  formerly  to  the 
late  Charles  Souther  of  Boston,  Mass.,  Avho  at  first  installed  and  oper- 
ated a  dipper  dredge,  equipped  with  double  hoppers,  screens,  and 
stackers.  This  dredge  was  not  a  success.  In  1898  a  334 -cubic-foot 
open-link-bucket  elevator  dredge,  constructed  by  the  Risdon  Iron 
Works,  was  installed.  This  dredge,  which  was  steam  driven,  operated 
successfully  under  the  direction  of  Captain  Winters  for  many  years, 
until  worn  out.  The  holdings  of  the  Boston  and  Idaho  Gold  Dredging 
Company  comprise  an  area  of  about  617  acres,  located  along  IMoores 
Creek  and  part  of  Elk  Creek,  extending  from  the  town  of  Idaho  City, 
several  miles  down  Moores  Creek,  along  the  road  to  Boise  City.  Pre- 
vious to  dredging,  extensive  hydraulic  mining  operations  were  carried 
on  along  the  banks  of  ]\Ioores  Creek  where  the  bench  gravels  were  rich 
in  gold.  As  a  result  of  these  operations,  Moores  and  I]lk  creeks  are 
clogged  with  hydraulic  tailings. 

At  Elk  City,  the  Ihaho  Dredging  C()nq)Miiy  aiul  the  Jennings  Dredg- 
ing Company  operated  but  a  short  tiiiii'  before  closing  down  for  the 
season  1909.    Tlie  former  conqiany  has  a  consiih-ralile  ai-ea  of  dredgeable 


266  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

gravel  on  American  River:  the  latter  has  ground  on  Little  p]lk  River, 
three  miles  north  of  Elk  City. 

In  the  Boise  basin  the  IMoline  IMining  Company  has  operated  a  Risdon 
dredge  near  Placerville  for  the  past  4ii/2  years,  having  averaged  8 
months  per  season,  27  days  per  month,  handling  1,400  cubic  yards  per 
da}',  working  three  8-liour  shifts.  This  dredge  has  5-foot  buckets,  open- 
connected,  is  equipped  with  a  compound  condensing  steam  engine,  the 
fuel  for  the  boilers  being  wood  that  costs  $3.25  per  cord  delivered  to 
the  dredge,  the  company  owning  the  timber  land  from  which  the  wood 
is  taken.  An  area  of  about  80  acres  of  dredgeable  ground  is  owned, 
the  gravel  being  from  30  to  45  feet  deep,  and  overlying  a  soft  sedi- 
mentar^y  bedrock,  which  is  easily  cleaned.  The  operating  season  for 
19.09  was  slightly  shortened  by  reason  of  the  dredge  being  dry  docked 
November  1st  so  as  to  overhaul  and  reinforce  the  hull,  an  unusual 
operation  that  was  successfully  accomplished,  and  the  dredge  put  afloat 
again  before  the  winter  freeze  up. 

*GOLD  DREDGING  IN  ALASKA. 

The  production  of  gold  from  placer  mines  in  Alaska  for  the  year  1909 
is  estimated  at  $16,000,000  as  compared  with  $15,885,000  for  1908,  and 
$16,491,000  in  1907.  Most  of  this,  with  the  exception  of  about  half  a 
million  dollars,  the  combined  production  of  the  smaller  districts,  comes 
from  the  Yukon  Basin  and  the  Seward  Peninsula.  Information  is  not 
available  as  to  what  proportion  of  the  placer  gold  is  produced  by  dredge 
operations. 

Up  to  four  or  five  years  ago,  most  of  the  attempts  at  dredging  were 
either  failures  or  gave  but  little  profit,  and  the  results  discouraged 
even  experienced  mining  men.  In  spite  of  adverse  opinions  and  the 
failures  of  the  first  attempts,  many  engineers  persisted  in  their  experi- 
ments to  meet  the  local  conditions  and  it  is  owing  to  the  efforts  of  these 
men  that  dredging  is  being  successfully  carried  on  in  Alaska  and 
adjacent  parts  of  Canada. 

The  installation  of  two  additional  dredges  near  Nome  and  the  suc- 
cessful operation  of  those  of  the  Yukon  Gold  Company,  several  in  the 
Seward  Peninsula  and  three  in  the  Forty-mile  district,  one  of  the  most 
isolated  placer  districts  in  Alaska,  are  significant  of  the  future  of 
Alaska  placer  operations  and  indicate  that  progress  is  steadily  being 
made  to  work  the  lower  grade  gravels. 

In  the  Seward  Peninsula  are  considerable  areas  of  gold-bearing 
gravels.  In  1909  there  were  about  eleven  dredges  working,  including 
several  that  were  installed  the  latter  end  of  the  season,  and  a  number  of 
dredges  have  been  ordered  for  the  spring  of  1910. 

*Partly  abstracted  from  "LT.  S.  Geological  Survey  Records"  and  the  "Mining  Press." 


OTHEK  DKEDUING  FIELDS. 


267 


The  dredge  of  the  Three  Friends  ]\Iining  Company,  Solomon  River, 
Seward  Peninsula,  operated  from  the  middle  of  June  to  the  middle  of 
October,  which  is  the  full  dredging  season  in  that  district.  It  is  a 
5-cubic-foot  elose-connected-bueket  elevator  dredge,  California  type,  con- 
structed by  the  Western  Engineering  and  Construction  Company  of 
San  Francisco,  and  equipped  with  Bucyrus  Company  machinery.  It 
was  erected  complete  in  the  year  1905,  in  the  record  time  of  57  days, 
and  has  been  operating  continuously  ever  since. 

Up  to  the  close  of  the  season  of  1909.  the  Three  Friends  dredge  had 
dug  92  acres  of  ground,  the  average  per  day  being  3.706  cubic  yards, 
or  111.180  cubic  yards  per  month.     This  is  considered  an  exceptionally 


No.   230.     Three   Friends'   Dredge,   Alaska.      California   type. 


good  record  for  a  dredge  operating  under  the  severe  conditions  met  with 
in  Alaska.  In  1908  it  was  necessary  to  dig  6  feet  into  a  hard  limestone 
bedrock,  in  order  to  extract  the  gold,  a  condition  which  existed  for  over 
four  weeks.  Aside  from  excessive  wearing  away  of  the  lips,  the  opera- 
tions of  tlie  dredge  were  not  affected,  a  fact  which  reflects  credit  on 
both  the  management  and  the  builders. 

Steam  power  is  used,  coal  being  shipped  from  the  outside  at  a  cost 
of  $20  a  ton  at  the  boat.  The  actual  operating  costs  are  said  to  be  11 
cents  per  cubic  yard,  and  the  total  costs  including  winter  care,  repairs, 
and  amortization  of  capital  are  said  to  be  18  cents  per  cubic  yard. 

The  Nome,  ^Montana.  New  ]\Iexico  Mining  Company,  also  on  Solomon 
River,  operates  a  5-cubic-foot  open-connected  bucket  dredge,  built  by 
the  Hisdon  Iron  AVorks.  This  dredge  uses  4.6  tons  of  coal  per  day  for 
fuel  and  is  said  to  average  60.000  cubic  yards  per  month.  For  some 
months  the  operating  costs  were  11  cents  per  cubic  yard;  the  ground 
averages  9  feet  in  depth.  The  plant  is  e<[uipp('d  witli  compound  con- 
densing engine,  surface  condenser,  and  locoiuolivc  type  of  lioilcr.  and 


268 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


is  considered  one  of  the  most  economical  operated  in  the  district.    This 
dredge  had  a  season  of  143  days  in  1909. 

A  dredge  that  would  be  regarded  by  most  dredge  operators  as  a  toy, 
but  which,  nevertheless,  is  said  to  have  made  a  profit  of  $15,000  for  the 
season  is  the  Sievertson  Dredge,  also  on  Solomon  River.  It  is  a  small 
machine  driven  by  gasoline  engines  and  equipped  with  1-cubic-f  oot  open- 
connected  buckets;  it  is  reported  to  have  cost  $6,000.     A  number  of 


No.   231. 


Timber  construction  of  dredge  hull,   Alaska,   as  designed  by  the  Western   Engineering 
and  Construction  Company.     California  type. 


other  companies  are  operating  dredges,  but  results  are  not  available  at 
this  writing. 

There  is  luidoubtedly  a  field  in  the  Seward  Peninsula  for  dredges  with 
3-  and  5-cubic-foot  buckets  and  several  installations  are  to  be  made  this 
season.  The  stream  beds  are  mostly  shallow,  being  from  10  to  25  feet 
deep,  the  l^edrock  is  generally  schist  or  limestone  and  the  gravels  loose 
and  generally  free  from  boulders  and  clay. 

The  record  of  the  dredges  of  the  Yukon  Gold  Company  for  the  past 
season  is  noteworthy,  especially  as  the  ground  had  to  be  thawed  by 
steam.  The  Yukon  Gold  Company  operated  seven  dredges  in  1909. 
They  commenced  operations  as  early  as  power  was  available.  The  last 
dredge  to  start  began  June  9th.     The  dredging  season  for  six  of  the 


OTHER  DREDGING  FIELDS. 


269 


seven  dredges  was  132i/2  days.  The  running  time  of  dredge  No.  5  was 
curtailed  on  account  of  local  conditions.  During  the  season  the  dredges 
handled  2,381,800  cubic  yards  and  produced  $1,363,722  worth  of  gold. 
The  value  per  cubic  yard  was  57.24  cents  and  the  cost  31.94  cents  per 
cubic  vard.     This  cost  included  thawing  charges,  amounting  to  15.45 


No.    232.      Rothchild    No.    1    Dredge   operating   in   Alaska.      Note   electric   power  plant   and 
wood  in  distance.      Marion  make.     California  type. 

cents,  preliminary  stripping  operations,  and  depreciation  at  the  rate 
of  $2,000  per  month  per  dredge. 

A  remarkable  record  was  made  at  the  power  i)lant  at  the  head  of 
Little  Twelve-mile  River,  the  loss  of  time  at  the  power  house  was  only 
twenty  minutes  in  the  entire  season.  The  capacity  of  the  plant  is  2.000 
horsepower. 

It  is  reported  that  tlic  Detroit  Gold  ^Mining  Company,  the  Lewis 
River  Gold  Mining  Company,  and  the  Walkers  Fork  Gold  Dredging 
'Company,  each  operating  one  dredge,  had  a  successful  .season  in  1909. 


272  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

The  following  information  is  given  by  Joseph  W.  Boyle,  manager  of 
Canadian  Klondyke  Mining  Company,  Limited,  operating  on  Bear 
Creek,  near  Dawson,  Alaska: 

The  Bear  Creek  dredge,  a  7i/2-cubic-foot  bucket  California  type 
elevator  dredge,  electrically  driven,  constructed  by  the  Marion  Steam 
Shovel  Company,  started  dredging  this  year  (1909)  at  11  p.  m.  on  May 
9th  and  stopped  at  7  a.  m.  November  20th,  a  total  of  194  days  and  8 
hours  for  the  season.  The  boat  dredged  681,616  cubic  yards  of  material, 
or  on  an  average  of  3,558  cubic  yards  per  day  throughout  the  season. 
The  total  lost  time  for  the  season  was  368  hours  and  43  minutes,  which 
was  7.90  per  cent  of  the  total  possible  running  time,  which  indicates 
that  the  length  of  season  is  greater  than  was  supposed  possible  in  Alaska. 
It  is  expected  that  the  dredge  will  operate  224  days  next  season. 

The  operation  of  this  dredge  for  the  above  period  compares  favorably 
with  those  of  the  best  boats  in  California,  both  as  to  the  yardage  handled 
and  the  lost  time  during  the  operating  season.  Mr.  Boyle  states  that 
the  actual  operation  of  the  dredge  and  power  plant,  including  mainte- 
nance and  repairs  and  all  items  of  labor,  fuel,  etc.,  has  for  the  year  1909 
been  less  than  15  cents  per  cubic  yard  of  material  handled,  which  he 
hopes  to  reduce  next  year. 

Heating  appliances  were  arranged  with  steam  pipe  extending  on  both 
sides  of  the  entire  length  of  the  enclosed  stacker  ladder,  with  steam 
coils  under  the  lower  belt  rollers,  under  the  sluice  tables,  and  in  the 
enclosed  house  constructed  over  the  main  drive  and  all  other  points 
necessary  to  be  kept  free  from  frost.  On  different  occasions  during  the 
month  of  November,  1909,  the  dredge  was  operated  in  a  temperature 
of  more  than  20  degrees  below  zero  without  the  slightest  difficulty  and 
with  all  the  efficiency  which  it  would  have  in  the  warmest  weather.  The 
system  of  applying  hot  water  to  the  fair  lead  sheaves  through  which  the 
various  shore  lines  were  operated  prevents  any  difficulty  from  this 
quarter. 

A  number  of  dredge  installations  have  been  failures  in  Alaska,  as 
elsewhere,  principally  because  they  were  based  upon  ill-advised  schemes 
or  because  of  the  lack  of  proper  technical  supervision.  As  a  rule,  each 
property  should  be  studied  carefully,  by  a  competent  engineer,  to 
determine  if  the  proposition  would  justify  exploitation  and  the  best 
method  of  working. 

One  of  the  heaviest  items  of  expense  in  Alaskan  placer  mining  opera- 
tions is  that  of  transportation,  which  affects  not  only  the  initial  installa- 
tion, but  also  operating  expenses,  including  labor  and  fuel.  The  present 
price  for  labor  varies  from  $5  to  $6  a  da.y  and  board,  making  a  total 
cost  per  man  of  $6  to  $8.50  per  day  in  the  most  important  camps. 

Coal  costs  from  $15  to  $18  a  ton  at  Nome ;  to  this  must  be  added  the 
cost  of  transportation  to  the  scene  of  mining  operations.     Where  wood 


18— GD 


274  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

is  available,  the  prices  run  from  $7  to  $12  a  cord,  delivered  to  the 
mines.  One  of  the  many  factors  that  atfect  dredging  is  the  frozen 
character  of  the  ground  which  has  been  described  in  various  articles 
on  Alaska.  A  few  years  ago  it  was  considered  impossible  to  profitably 
dredge  frozen  ground,  but  experience  has  shown  that  this  is  not  always 
the  case. 

PLACER  MINING  IN  THE  YUKON. 

On  Bonanza  Creek  the  ground  being  worked  by  hydraulic  giants  and 
sluices  is  20  to  25  feet  deep  and  very  flat.  To  obtain  the  necessary  dump 
a  portable  bucket  elevator  was  arranged  to  raise  the  gold-bearing  gravel 
from  the  bedrock  sluice  to  a  suitable  height  and  discharge  into  a 
system  of  portable  sluices  arranged  to  facilitate  a  change  of  position 
when  necessary  to  obtain  a  new  dump.  The  whole  of  the  elevator 
machinery  is  supported  upon  a  structural  frame  mounted  on  wheels, 
one  day  being  required  to  move  the  machine  to  a  new  position  and  put 
it  in  order  ready  for  operation. 

This  method  has  proven  very  satisfactory,  and  at  the  present  time 
0.  B.  Perrj^,  general  manager  and  chief  engineer  for  the  Yukon  Gold 
Company,  has  three  of  these  machines  of  his  own  design  at  work  upon 
the  company 's  property.     The  mode  of  operation  is  as  follows : 

A  sump  approximately  20  feet  square,  having  a  depth  of  14  to  16 
feet  below  bedrock,  is  excavated  to  receive  the  lower  end  of  the  elevator, 
a  channel  or  bedrock  sluice  emptying  into  the  sump,  having  an  approxi- 
mate grade  of  5  inches  in  12  feet,  is  excavated  in  the  bedrock  and 
provided  with  riffles.  The  bank  of  gravel  to  be  treated  is  washed  down 
by  two  Iwdraulic  giants  with  3-inch  nozzles ;  a  third  giant  is  directed 
down  the  bedrock  sluice  to  carry  the  gravel  to  the  elevator  which  dumps 
the  gravel  into  a  riffled  sluice,  approximately  25  feet  above  the  ground. 

The  elevator  chain  consists  of  3-cubic-foot  close-connected  buckets, 
operated  by  a  50  horsepower  motor.  The  water  used  in  the  upper 
sluice  is  pumped  from  the  sumps  by  one  12-inch  centrifugal  pump 
belted  to  a  100  horsepower  motor  and  one  8-inch  centrifugal  pump 
belted  to  a  50  horsepower  motor. 

A  derrick  having  a  long  boom  is  located  in  a  convenient  position  to 
handle  the  large  boulders  and  deposit  same  in  a  suitable  place  clear  of 
the  gravel  being  treated.     See  illustration.  No.  235,  page  273. 

*60LD  DREDGING  IN  THE  PHILIPPINE  ISLANDS. 

The  only  successful  dredging  in  the  islands  has  been  carried  on  in 
the  Paracale  district,  which  is  situated  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
province  of  Ambos  Camarines  on  the  eastern  coast  of  the  Island  of 
Luzon.  It  is  reached  by  steamer  from  Manila  around  the  southern  end 
of  Luzon  to  Mercedes,  abo.ut  20  miles  east  of  Paracale. 

♦Abstract  from  "The  Mineral  Resources  of  the  Philippine  Islands." 


OTHER  DREDGING  P^IELDS.  275 

The  Paracale  district  was  regarded  by  the  Spaniards  as  the  most 
important  mining  region  in  the  islands,  and  the  mines  have  been  worked 
intermittently  and  the  streams  washed  since  before  the  days  of  the 
Spanish  conquest  and  the  hills  are  honeycombed  with  ancient  workings. 

Since  the  American  occupation  development  has  been  hindered  by 
the  confusion  which  has  existed  in  regard  to  titles,  there  being  great 
uncertainty  as  to  the  validity  and  extent  of  many  of  the  Spanish  con- 
cessions. Lately,  however,  satisfactory  arrangements  have  been  made 
in  many  cases  and  work  is  progressing. 

The  Paracale  district  consists  of  maturely  eroded  hills  of  metamorphic 
and  igneous  rocks  containing  quartz  veins.  The  -large  plains  of  the 
Paracale  and  Malagit  rivers,  as  w^ell  as  smaller  valleys,  afford  very 
promising  dredging  ground,  which  is  now  being  thoroughly  prospected, 
chiefly  by  means  of  small  drills,  and  showing  excellent  returns.  The 
Paracale  Dredging  Company  has  had  a  dredge  in  operation  on  its 
property  near  the  town  of  Paracale  for  the  last  year  and  a  half,  and 
such  excellent  results  have  been  obtained  that  several  other  dredges  will 
be  in  operation  in  a  short  time  on  neighboring  properties.  The  placer 
ground  in  the  vicinity  of  Paracale  generally  consists  of  about  four  to  five 
meters  of  barren  clay  mixed  wdth  vegetable  matter.  In  places  this  over- 
lies a  few  centimeters  of  coral  and  below  this  is  a  varying  amount  of 
gray  clay  carrying  values.  Beneath  this  again  is  an  irregular  amount 
of  extremely  rich  sand  and  quartz  pebbles,  the  latter  often  showing 
large  amounts  of  free  gold.  The  gold  brought  up  by  the  dredge  now 
working  is  remarkably  angular  and  often  shows  distinct  cry.stalline 
structure.  The  quartz  pebbles  are  often  sharp  and  angular,  showing 
that  they  have  traveled  but  a  very  short  distance.  The  bedrock  appears 
to  be  a  schistose  rock,  decomposed  to  a  cla}',  which  is  easily  cut  by  the 
dredge  buckets,  making  it  possible  to  secure  practically  all  of  this  rich 
gravel. 

The  dredge  at  present  in  operation  is  of  the  New  Zealand  type  and 
differs  from  those  generally  used  in  America  in  that  it  has  no  stacking 
ladder  and  no  quicksilver  is  used  in  the  riffles.  According  to  the  dredge- 
master's  reports,  during  a  period  from  May  25  to  December  31,  1908, 
50,244  cubic  yards  were  handled  and  2,814.1  ounces  of  gold,  having  a 
value  of  $50,653.80,  recovered.  For  the  whole  period  from  ]\fay  25, 
1908,  to  July  1,  1909,  a  return  of  4,985  ounces,  valued  at  $89,731,  United 
States  currency,  is  reported.  The  dredge  is  equipped  with  one  70- 
horsepower  boiler.  60-horsepower  engine,  a  digging  ladder  62  feet  in 
length,  a  revolving  screen,  and  37  digging  l)uckets,  each  of  4^-cu])ic- 
foot  capacity.  The  hull  is  built  of  Oregon  pine  and  is  114  feet  lony.  30 
feet  wide.  5  feet  6  inclies  deep  at  the  bow.  and  9  feet  deep  at  tlie  stern. 
The  greater  depth  at  the  stei-n  is  required  to  sup]iort  four  sluices.  80 
feet  long,  wliidi  luivc  ;m  overhang  of  30  fi-et  be\(»n(l  the  stci-n  of  the 


27G 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


PaV-tPPIXB   IBIANDB   Bai 


hnm    Dl    LAHTCTO*   18"    N 


No.  236.     Map  of  Philippine  Islands. 


OTHER  DREDGING  FIELDS. 


277 


boat.  The  general  system  of  the  gold-saving  arrangement  includes  a  big 
spread  of  expanded  metal  and  cocoa  matting.  The  custom  in  the  district 
is  to  have  five  white  men  on  a  dredge;  the  dredgem aster,  three  winch- 
men,  and  one  extra  man,  who  should  be  an  engineer  and  machinist.  All 
the  other  labor  is  native.  The  dredgemasters  receive  $200  to  $250  per 
month  and  board,  and  the  white  men  $125  to  $150  and  board.  The 
natives  receive  37j/2  to  50  cents  per  day,  according  to  their  ability. 

Dredging  is  made  difficult  not  only  by  the  large  amount  of  barren 
clay  which  must  l)e  removed,  but  lh(^  uimsiially  hirge  percentage  of  fine 


No.   237.      Dredge  on   the   Paracale   River,    Philippine   Islands.      New  Zealand   type. 

material  haiidlctl,  about  80  per  cent  of  all  the  material  passing  through 
the  screens.  The  black  sand  carries  values  and  is  saved  for  future 
treatment,  as  is  also  part  of  the  gray  clay.  The  oversize  material  from 
the  revolving  screen  is  sorted  by  hand  and  the  quartz  pebbles  saved  for 
future  crushing. 

The  operations  referred  to  have  been  carried  on  by  a  New  Zealand 
corporation  the  Paracale  Gold  Dredging  Company.  Limited,  working 
on  shares  willi  the  claim  owners.  A  second  l)oat  has  liccn  installed 
farther  up  on  the  same  river  by  another  New  Zealand  company,  the 
Stanley-Paracale  Gold  Dredging  Company.  It  differs  from  the  fir.st 
dredge  in  that  it  has  no  revolving  screen  or  tables,  the  buckets  discharg- 
ing directly  into  a  larger  sluice  box.  A  third  dredge  installed  on  the 
Paracale  River  is  a  Risdon  di-cdgc  equipped  with  31/pfoot  ])uckets.  This 
dredge  was  originally  set  uj)  on  the  island  of  ^Masbale.     It  wa.s  bought 


278  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

by  the  present  owner,  the  Philippine  Gold  Dredging  Company,   and 
removed  to  Paracale. 

The  Paracale  River  is  really  an  arm  of  the  sea  with  a  rise  and  fall  of 
some  five  or  six  feet  of  tide.  The  flat  in  which  it  runs  is  perhaps 
a  mile  in  width  near  the  mouth.  It  continues  about  the  same  width 
for  a  mile  or  more  up  and  then  spreads  out  into  smaller  flats  with  ranges 
of  hills  cutting  in  between.  The  total  area  available  for  gold  dredging 
in  this  flat  is  estimated  at  about  1,300  acres.  The  average  depth  to  bed- 
rock on  the  lower  river  is  from  30  to  40  feet.  Where  the  Stanley  dredge 
is  at  work  at  a  point  higher  up  on  the  river,  the  depth  is  considerably 
less.  A  great  deal  of  sand  and  other  fine  material  is  found  and  prob- 
ably not  over  35  per  cent  of  the  dirt  handled  can  be  stacked,  and  of  the 
three  dredges  only  the  Risdon  has  a  stacker. 

The  Malagit  River,  which  flows  into  the  Pacific  Ocean  not  far  from 
the  Paracale  River,  has  been  prospected,  to  a  considerable  extent  with 
hand  drills.  There  is  a  much  larger  percentage  of  gravel  and  heavy 
material  there  than  on  the  Paracale  and  several  other  streams  in  the 
same  district,  all  tidal  rivers  running  into  the  Pacific  Ocean,  are  being 
investigated  at  the  present  time. 

The  Labo  and  Malagit  are  the  principal  rivers,  and  with  their  tribu- 
taries drain  most  of  the  country,  which,  with  the  exception  of  ]\Iount 
Bagacay  in  the  southeastern  portion  of  the  district,  about  3,000  feet 
high,  and  ]\Iay  Cruz  Mountain,  forming  Mambulao  Point  in  the  north- 
western part  of  the  district,  about  1,000  feet  high,  is  quite  flat.  Low 
hills  and  ridges  divide  the  tide  water  streams,  and  except  w^here  cleared 
by  the  natives  for  growing  hemp,  are  covered  with  heavy^  timber  and 
a  dense  undergrowth  so  that  prospecting  is  difficult.  The  country  is 
inhabited  mainly  by  Tagalogs.  though  there  are  a  few  Bicols  left  and 
Negrites  from  the  interior  are  occasionally  found  on  the  small  farms. 
The  rainy  season  is  opposite  to  that  of  ^Manila,  the  heaviest  precipitation 
occuring  in  Decemlier,  January,  and  Fel)ruary. 

During  the  year  1909  there  are  several  improvements  planned  for 
the  district  aside  from  the  mining  work.  The  most  important  of  these 
will  l)e  the  removal  of  a  reef  which  obstructs  the  entrance  to  the  ]\Iala- 
git  River,  thereby  aftording  excellent  harbor  facilities.  At  present 
there  is  no  shelter  nearer  than  ^Mercedes  on  the  one  hand  and  IMambulao 
on  the  other,  and  during  bad  weather  the  regular  steamers  can  go  no 
farther  than  ^Mercedes,  some  30  kilometers  down  the  coast. 

Other  improvements  planned  for  the  district  are  the  building  of  a 
telephone  line  and  the  construction  of  a  wagon  road  from  Indang.  The 
association  also  hopes  to  secure  from  the  insular  government  some 
arrangement  which  will  permit  of  having  a  resident  mining  recorder. 
At  present  there  is  unnecessarily  great  delay  and  confusion  caused  by 
the  necessity  of  sending  all  papers  to  Nueva  Caceres.  the  capital  of  the 
province. 


OTHER  DREDGING  FIELDS. 


279 


DREDGING  IN  NEW  ZEALAND  EOR  THE  YEAR  1908. 

During  the  past  year,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  following  statement, 
the  average  yield  per  working  dredge  was  £3,039,  being  a  decline  of 
£239  on  that  obtained  during  the  previous  year;  a  decline  of  £45,816 
has  to  be  recorded  in  the  value  of  gold  production  by  dredges,  and  the 
number  of  working  dredges  has  decreased  by  five. 

The  following  statement  shows  the  number  of  dredges,  the  gold  pro- 
duced by  them,  and  the  number  of  persons  employed  during  1907  and 
1908 : 


Number  of  Dredges. 

Number 

of 
Persons 
Ordi- 
narily 
Em- 
ployed. 

Yield 

During 

1908. 

Average 

1907.                   1908. 

\  ield 

per 

Dredge 

1908. 

Ml«-    Work,  j  Idle. 

At 
Work. 

West  Coast             

2 
35 

25 
103 

4 
13 

23 
100 

196 
817 

£75,670 
298,148 

£3,290 

Southern 

2,981 

Totals                         - 

37 

128 

17 

123 

1,013 

£273,818 

£3,039 

The  dividends  paid  by  forty-one  of  these  dredges,  the  propert}^  of 
registered  companies,  amounted  to  £75,050  during  the  year;  the  profits 
of  privately  owned  dredges  is  unobtainable. 

The  following  is  a  statement  regarding  the  most  productive  dredges 
during  the  vear: 


Name  of  Dredge. 


Production 
During 

1908  of  all 
Dredges. 


Dividends  Paid  by 

Forty-three  Dredges 

Owned  by  Registered 

Companies. 


During 
1908. 


To  Decem- 
ber 31, 1908. 


West  Coast  District — 

No  Town  Creek £7,174 

Pactohis  (two  dredges) 14..391 

Southern    District — 

Alexandra  Eureka  5,012 

Golden  Treasure  5,847 

Koputai  6,952 

Manuherikia  ,5,145 

Masterton  9.206 

Mystery  Flat 9,873 

Otago  (3  dredges) 5,621 

Paterson's  Freehold 7,669 

Rise  and  Shine 14,414 

Ri.sing  Sun  ._ 8.567 

Waikaia  8,113 

Wuikaka  Syndicate 5,735 

Waikaka  United  (two  dredges) 11,767 

Waikaka  Queen  4,345 

Otiier  working  dredges  (both  districts) 243,987 

Totals  £373,818 


£3.000 

8,125 


2,400 
2,445 
2,538 
2,100 
5,500 
6,614 
1,250 
3,600 
5,700 
3,600 
4,550 
1,400 
7,000 
1,590 
14,408 


£23,400 
56,250 


18,450 
23,439 

4,813 
30,600 
25,000 
20,119 
16,000 
13,200 
15,600 

8.000 
10,500 
13,300 
33,600 

4,628 
377,007 


£75.820 


£693,906 


In  Otago.  the  priiicipjil  gold  dredging  field  in  Australasia,  many  of 
the  chiinis  OH  the  Kiver  Molyueu.x  and  upon  the  Waipori  and  Waikaka 


280 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


fields  are  gradually  becoming  worked  out,  but  upon  the  upper  Clutha 
and  elsewhere  considerable  areas  remain  to  be  worked. 

The  era  of  the  dredge  of  small  dimensions  and  low  power  is  past, 
but  there  yet  remain  several  years  of  prosperity  for  those  large  dredges 
of  greater  power  capable  of  working  increased  quantities  of  low-grade 
gravel. 

In  Otago  and  Southland  eight  dredges  are  now  operated  by  hydraulic 
powder  and  two  by  electricity.  The  most  consistently  remunerative 
dredging  field  is  still  that  at  Waikaia,  and  some  excellent  returns  have 
been  obtained  from  the  Waikaia,  Koputai,  Mystery  Flat,  and  Masterton 
dredges.  The  first  named  established  a  record  for  land  dredging  in  New 
Zealand  during  one  week  in  April,  1908,  by  securing  248  ounces  of 
gold.  The  Hartley  and  Riley  dredge  in  the  Clutha  Gorge  in  less  than 
three  weeks  during  the  same  year  obtained  from  a  small  patch  450 
ounces  of  gold. 

On  the  West  Coast  no  new  dredges  have  been  built  during  the  year, 
but  those  at  work  have  done  very  well,  especially  the  Pactolus  and  No 
Town  Creek  dredges. 

The  diminution  of  the  dredging  returns  during  1908  may  to  a  certain 
extent  be  attributed  to  the  flooded  state  of  the  rivers  during  the  autumn 
and  early  winter,  when,  owing  to  the  height  of  the  water,  the  dredges 
were  precluded  from  working  in  the  river  gorges  for  a  considerable 
period. 

The  following  is  a  statement  comparing  the  production  of  dividends 
paid  by  and  number  of  men  employed  upon  all  the  gold  dredges  in 
Victoria  and  New  South  Wales  with  those  in  New  Zealand,  the  property 
of  registered  companies,  during  1908  : 


Value  of  Bullion. 

Dividends. 

Men  Employed. 

IS.? 

icro  "S 
re 

TotaL     \;j^^ 

Total. 

Per 
Dredge. 

Total.    Dredge. 

Victoria  (all  dredges).-. 

New  South  Wales  (all  dredges). 
New  Zealand  (dredges  the  prop- 
erty of  registered  companies 
only)  

47 
26 

41 

£220.632* 
155,770 

;:}53,104 

£4,694 

5,980 

8,612 

£59.249 

J. 
r 

75,050 

£1,260 

t 

1,830 

641 

t 

369 

13.6 

-      1 

9 

*  Estimated  at  £4   per  ounce, 
t  Not  known. 


Note. — Abstract  from  report  of  the  Department  of  Mines  on  the  gold  fields  of  New 
Zealand  for  the  year  1908. 

GOLD  DREDGING  IN  SIBERIA. 

The  gold  mines  of  Siberia  proper  consist  almost  entirely  of  river 
placers.  The  Ural  region  has  a  number  of  quartz  mines  and  about  two 
fifths  of  its  gold  production  comes  from  this  source.  The  gold-bearing 
gravels  of  Siberia  are  widely  distributed,  each  of  the  great  rivers  having 
among  its  tributaries  several  areas  from  which  placer  gold  is  produced. 


OTHER    DHEDGIXG    FIELDS.  281 

The  richest  placers  are  probably  those  of  the  Lena  region,  where  $25  to 
$30  per  cubic  yard  is  not  uncommon.  In  the  valley  of  the  Yenisei, 
along  many  of  the  tributaries  of  the  Amur,  and  elsewhere  throughout 
Siberia  are  placers  that  would  cause  big  stampedes  if  located  in  America 
or  in  English  territory. 

Siberia  is  bj^  no  means  an  unknown  country,  and  is  far  from  being 
a  frozen  land.  A  report  by  Keutofski,  a  geologist  in  the  government 
service,  gives  much  that  is  of  interest  and  is  accompanied  by  geological 
maps.  Unfortunately,  this  work  is  in  Russian  and  has  not  yet  been 
translated  to  English.  Numerous  articles  have  been  published  in  the 
"technical  press"  of  this  country  and  England  on  Siberia,  abstracts 
from  W'hich  have  been  freel^^  taken  when  available  in  writing  this  article, 
and  also  from  Eeutofski's  report  and  the  statistics  furnished  by  the 
Gold  and  Platinum  Miners'  Association  of  Russia. 

According  to  Reutofski  the  Siberian  placers  have  yielded,  up  to  1904, 
at  least  $700,000,000 ;  the  Nakatami  River,  in  the  Lena  district,  yielded 
between  1865  and  1900  $54,000,000  from  gravels,  having  an  average 
value  of  $10  per  cubic  yard.  On  the  Akakan,  one  of  its  tributaries, 
the  pa3'  streak  is  reported  to  be  from  300  to  500  feet  wdde  and  has  been 
worked  for  three  miles  along  the  stream;  the  gravel  is  3i/^  to  15  feet 
thick  and  carries  a  heavy  overburden. 

Gold  dredges  are  of  recent  date  in  Russia  and  were  first  installed 
about  seven  or  eight  years  ago.  Gold  mining  has  existed  in  Russia  for 
over  150  years.  On  account  of  the  crude  methods  employed  in  washing 
auriferous  gravel  the  tailing  of  old  plants  should  present  good  oppor- 
tunities for  the  work  of  dredges.  An  experiment  to  work  wdth  modern 
methods  the  tailing  from  an  old  placer  mine  w^as  successfully  carried 
out  by  Mr.  C.  W.  Purington  in  the  Amur  district,  over  60,000  cubic 
yards  being  handled  in  the  test  and  a  total  clean-up  of  $67,000  obtained. 

There  have  been  many  failures  recorded  of  dredging  operations  in 
Siberia,  but  it  is  not  surprising  considering  the  faulty  equipment  of 
most  of  the  early  installations.  Many  of  the  first  dredges  were  of 
German  make,  built  by  people  Avho  had  little  or  no  experience  in  gold 
dredging,  and  were  often  installed  on  a  proposition  under  terms 
whereby  the  construction  company  received  the  gross  profits  until  the 
dredge  was  paid  for.  The  gold-saving  apparatus  was  crude  and  the 
machinery  was  not  durable,  but  generally  held  together  long  enough 
for  the  Germans  to  get  their  money  from  the  gross  profits. 

With  the  installation  of  modern  dredges,  notably  tliose  l)uilt  by  the 
Putiloff  Works  at  St.  Petersburg,  from  plans  of  California  type  dredges 
furnished  by  the  Bueyrus  Company,  a  new  impetus  was  given  to  the 
dredging  industry  in  that  country.  Details  of  operation  of  two  Cali- 
fornia type  dredges  built  l)y  the  Putilofl'  Works  and  installed  and 
successfully  operated  at  Ivdell  are  given  by  W.  H.  Shockely  in  the 
Mini));/  Magazine. 


282 


GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA, 


Details  of  Ivdell  Dredges. 


Size  of  Buckets. 


Worked  for 


Days. 


Hours. 


Yards 
Exca- 
vated. 


Ounces 
of  Gold 

Pro- 
duced. 


Yield  per 
Cubic 
Yard  in 
Cents. 


No.  1,  3-foot  . 
No.  2,  5i-foot 


192 

184 


3,783 
3,283 


156,210 
256,159 


1,655 
1,962 


18.8 
13.4 


Note. — Work  began  April  14,   1907,  and  ended  October  19,   1908. 

The  Permanent  Consultive  Office  of  the  gold  and  platinum  industries 
in  Russia,  which  represents  the  interests  of  the  gold  and  platinum 
industry  of  all  Russia,  has  published  interesting  information  on  the 
production  of  the  Ural  and  Siberian  dredges  in  Russia  for  the  years 
1906,  1907,  and  1908. 

The  average  number  of  days  worked  by  dredges  reporting  the  season 
of  1908  M'as  1491/^  days,  one  of  the  dredges  of  the  Neviansk  Company 
at  Nikolaievsk  operated  194  days.  Most  of  the  dredges  commenced 
work  late  in  April  and  in  the  Yenesie  region  about  the  middle  of  May. 
Some  of  the  dredges  were  shut  down  by  the  first  of  October,  but  the 
majority  continued  digging  until  nearly  the  end  of  October  and  a  few 
well  into  November.  Two  dredges  in  the  Nijni  Tagil  region  of  the  Urals 
are  reported  as  working  up  to  the  11th  of  December.  The  information 
furnished  by  the  49  dredges  reporting  out  of  some  64  dredges  known 
to  be  in  existence  in  Siberia  and  the  Ural  region  in  1908  is  not  all  that 
could  be  desired,  but  serves  to  give  an  idea  of  dredge  operations  in 
that  country. 

Information  is  not  included  in  the  report  concerning  the  type  of 
dredges  used.  They  varied  greatly  in  capacity  and  size  of  buckets; 
twenty  having  7-cubic-foot  buckets  and  most  of  the  balance  5  and  4^- 
cubic-foot  buckets.  The  average  yardage  handled  during  the  season 
was  166,400  cubic  yards  per  dredge.  The  following  table  gives  average 
returns  and  yardage  handled  by  reporting  dredges  for  1906,  1907,  and 
1908 : 


!z; 

» 

> 

5= 

o 

o 

> 

> 

• 

eporting 

Dredges 

verage 
Working 
Days 

orking 
Time 
Average  ... 

Q  CD  f6 
CD    " 

unces  of 
Bullion 
Recovered 
per  Dredge 

1-1 

CD  <D  a 

pproximate 
Value  per 
Cubic  Yard 
in  Cents... 

1906  

40 

32 

173 

2,837 

159,600 

1,082 

$19,205 

12 

1907  

64 

46 

1371 

2,259 

139.300 

1,140 

20,235 

14.5 

1908  

64 

49 

im 

2,502 

166,400 

1,430 

25.380 

15.2 

For  the  year  1908  the  average  recovery  per  dredge  was  1,430  ounces, 
or.  approximately,  $25,380  for  the  season.  The  average  value  of  the 
gravel  worked  by  all  the  dredges,  according  to  the  reports,  was  a  little 


OTHER  DREDGING  FIELDS.  283 

over  15  cents  per  cubic  yard,  one  dredge  reporting  the  gravel  handled 
at  a  little  over  31  cents  per  cubic  yard. 

The  bureau  estimates  that  the  average  cost  of  carr^-ing  on  dredging 
operations  in  the  Ural  region  was  about  $15,000  per  dredge,  exclusive 
of  amortization,  while  $19,000  is  figured  as  the  expense  per  dredge  for 
those  operating  in  the  Yenesei  region,  where  conditions  are  less  favor- 
able. Taking  $5,000  as  the  average  amount  to  be  set  aside  annually  to 
amortize  the  cost  of  the  dredge  and  equipment,  it  is  estimated  by  the 
bureau  that  the  operations  in  the  Ural  show  an  average  profit  of  $5,000 
per  dredge,  while  in  the  Yenesei  region  they  barely  pay  expenses. 

These  average  figures  are  of  little  value  on  account  of  the  various  con- 
ditions of  operation.  ]\Iany  dredges  worked  under  conditions  that  made 
it  impossible  to  more  than  roughly  estimate  the  cjuantity  of  material 
lifted. 

Siberia  offers  many  inducements  for  gold  dredging  operations  and 
is  attracting  much  attention  from  capitalists  and  investors.  A  number 
of  California  engineers  have  reported  on  different  fields  and  some  are 
at  present  engaged  on  such  work,  mostly  for  English  companies. 

The  following  interesting  description  of  the  conditions  met  witli  in 
Siberia  has  been  kindly  furnished  by  ]\Ir.  J.  B.  Landfield : 

A  foreign  company  has  no  difficulty  legally  in  operating  in  Russia. 
provided  the  laws  are  observed.  The  one  definite  requirement  is  that 
the  company  have  a  responsible  representative  residing  in  Russia  upon 
whom  can  be  served  any  papers  or  processes.  Some  corporations  follow 
the  practice  so  much  used  in  connection  with  JMexican  mines,  /.  c.  they 
form  a  Russian  corporation  and  then  have  a  foreign  holding  company. 
In  addition  to  the  strictly  legal  conditions  there  are  important  practical 
conditions  that  affect  the  successful  operation  of  a  foreign  corporation 
in  Russia.  The  most  important  is  the  question  of  language.  The  use 
of  an  interpreter  is  so  unsatisfactory  that  the  corporation  that  has  not 
a  Russian  speaking  manager,  or  one  that  will  quickly  learn  the  language 
and  the  mining  law  which,  in  general,  is  an  excellent  code  and  far 
superior  to  our  own,  had  better  not  attempt  to  operate. 

Labor  is  good  if  properly  handled.  The  Siberian  Russian  is  strong 
and  haj-dy.  In  southern  Siberia  the  Tartars  make  excellent  workmen. 
The  Cliinese  and  Koreans  in  eastern  Siberia  in  many  cases  are  splendid 
woi-kmcn.  and  are  r(ui('t  and  law-abiding,  but  there  is  a  strong  exclusion 
sentiment  in  Russia,  and  it  is  likely  that  they  will  have  to  go.  or  that 
restrictions  will  be  placed  on  their  employment. 

There  are  many  placers  far  removed  from  easy  transport,  which  point 
must  be  taken  into  consideration ;  but  the  railroad  and  the  numerous 
rivers  reach  a  great  many  regions,  and  the  snow  in  winter  makes  pos- 
sible the  cheap  hauling  of  heavy  machinery  on  sledges.  In  many  cases 
in  oi-(l(M"  to  take  advantaui^  of  the  wintiM-  roads  it  will  he  found  nrccssarx- 


284  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

to  allow  an  extra  season  before  the  dred<ie  can  be  made  ready  for 
operation.  Supplies  of  food,  fodder  and  simple  necessaries  are  usually 
cheap,  much  more  so  than  in  corresponding  Alaska  camps.  General 
supplies  can  usually  be  easily  and  cheaply  transported  by  taking  advan- 
tage of  the  proper  season  to  lay  in  stores. 

In  regard  to  labor  it  must  be  said  that  the  Russian  workmen  is 
remarkably  quick  to  learn  the  handling  of  machinery.  The  majority 
of  them  seem  to  be  natural  mechanics,  and  it  is  easy  to  train  up  efficient 
help  for  the  mechanical  end.  Superintendents  and  assistants  are  diffi- 
cult to  obtain  in  Russia ;  that  is  to  say,  efficient  ones.  The  technical 
education  in  Russia  is  to  blame  for  this.  The  course  is  largely  theoret- 
ical, and  the  graduate  is  too  proud  to  work  with  his  hands.  Further- 
more, there  is  seldom  developed  any  sense  of  personal  responsibility. 

In  general,  it  may  be  said  that  the  conditions  of  labor  and  transpor- 
tation facilities  ought  not  to  affect  operation  and  maintenance  greatlj', 
but  the  latter  will,  in  most  cases,  raise  the  original  cost  of  the  plant. 

Most  Russian  placers  are  rather  extensively  prospected  according  to 
the  methods  employed  there;  that  is  to  say,  a  Russian  mine  ow^ner 
spends  a  great  deal  of  money  on  shaft  sinking.  These  shafts  or  pits 
are  put  down  in  row^s  and  the  pits  are  usuall}^  35  feet  apart  (sometimes 
70  feet)  and  the  rows  from  140  to  350  feet  apart.  A  post  near  each  is 
marked  with  the  number  of  the  row,  the  number  of  the  pit,  and  some- 
times the  date.  The  superintendent  has  a  book  specially  ruled  for 
keeping  the  records  of  the  prospecting.  Each  shaft  has  a  page  and  one 
line  is  devoted  to  the  record  of  each  seven  inches  of  depth.  The  reason 
for  this  is  that  the  arshiu,  the  regular  Russian  measure,  is  28  inches 
and  the  quarter  arshin,  also  a  familiar  measure,  is  found  convenient 
for  units  of  material  to  be  washed.  There  are  columns  marked  "over- 
burden" and  "pay-streak"  and  under  one  or  the  other  column  will  be 
entered  such  remarks  as  "fine  gravel,"  "blue  clay,"  and  so  forth,  for 
each  seven  inches.  Tests  are  made  from  the  gravel  of  each  seven  inches 
of  depth  and  these  tests  mean  the  washing  of  a  considerable  amount  of 
gravel.  The  gravel  is  washed  in  a  washing  machine  of  the  regular 
Siberian  type,  only  smaller,  and  consists  of  a  long  tom,  followed  by  a 
short,  steep  sluice.  As  most  prospecting  is  done  in  the  winter  time  the 
gravel  is  carried  to  a  cabin  for  testing.  In  spite  of  all  this  work  and 
apparent  care,  however,  the  results  are  very  inaccurate.  There  are  two 
reasons  for  this,  the  carelessness  in  testing,  owing  to  the  crude  machine, 
and  the  lack  of  a  feeling  of  personal  responsibility  on  the  part  of  the 
superintendent. 

The  placers  of  Siberia,  scattered  over  an  area  of  5.000,000  square 
miles,  present  every  variety  of  depth,  bedrock,  etc.  In  general,  the 
river  placers  of  western,  southern,  and  eastern   Siberia  are  not  very 


OTHER    DREDGIXC;    FIET.DS.  285 

deep.  Except  in  some  instanees  in  the  lower  reaches  of  the  rivers  they 
are  seldom  more  than  15  to  18  feet  in  d('])th.  In  the  Lena  region, 
liowever.  they  are  sometimes  of  ^reat  depth.  l)uricd  luider  the  drift. 
Fine  bedrock,  from  a  dredging  standpoint,  is  frequently  met  with. 
IMany  placers  have  a  bedrock  of  decomposed  diorite  or  other  rock  soft 
enough  to  be  taken  up  by  a  dredge  to  a  depth  of  18  inches. 

All  sizes  of  boulders  are  met  with,  but  in  some  placers  there  are  none 
of  any  size.  In  most  localities  the  ground  freezes  in  winter  and  this 
delays  work  in  the  spring.  Only  in  the  extreme  north  is  permanently 
frozen  ground  met  with.  The  sticky  claj^  that  frequently  lies  on  top  of 
the  gravel  in  the  upper  stretches  of  a  river  placer  is  a  serious  obstacle 
to  dredging.  In  washing  it  rolls  up  into  balls  and  interferes  with  the 
saving  of  the  gold,  and  it  is  often  greasy  enough  to  make  the  water 
carry  off  any  gold  of  a  flaky  character.  In  going  down  the  streams  this 
clay  usually  disappears.  One  curious  feature  of  Siberian  placers  is 
that  the  trees  have  very  shalloAv  roots  and  most  of  them  can  be  easily 
overturned. 

The  character  of  the  gold  varies  greatly.  In  some  placers  the  gold 
is  very  fine,  almost  like  powder,  and  yet  so  heavy  that  it  was  easy  to 
save  practically  all  of  it.  In  other  placers  the  size  is  very  irregular. 
In  one  locality  there  was  so  much  silver  in  the  gold  that  it  was  very  light 
and  hard  to  save  in  the  upper  reaches  of  the  stream,  but  attained  a 
much  higher  fineness  lower  down.  Gold  in  Siberia  seldom  fails  to 
amalgamate  readily.  There  are  as  great  variations  in  fineness  as  in 
the  gold  in  different  parts  of  Alaska. 

Wood  is  the  chief  fuel  in  the  placer  regions  of  Siberia.  Except  in 
the  Altai  region,  and  perhaps  the  ^Maritime  province  and  the  Ural 
region,  there  seems  little  chance  for  the  development  of  water  power. 
Coal  and  oil  are  not  found  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  placers,  and 
transportation  on  them  is  prohibitive.  Wood  is  usually  plentiful  and 
costs  about  $1.50  per  cord.  There  is  very  little  market  for  electric 
power  in  the  mining  localities. 

GOLD  DREDGING  IN  MEXICO. 

Extensive  "dry"  placers  occur  in  the  Altar  district  near  La  Cienaga 
and  Palomas,  in  the  State  of  Sonora.  Numerous  attempts  to  work 
these  placers  have  been  made  with  varying  success  and  those  near 
I'alomas,  it  is  reported,  will  be  worked  by  dredges  in  the  near  future. 
Other  areas  of  auriferous  gravel  occur  in  southern  Sonora  and  in 
Sinaloa.  An  attempt  was  made  to  dredge  gravel  near  Suaqui  Grande, 
Sonora.  some  ycai's  ago.  hnl  tli(»  V(Mitnre  proved  a  failure. 


286  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

GOLD  DREDGING  IN  COLOMBIA. 

The  greater  part  of  the  gold  yield  of  Colombia  has  been  from  placer 
deposits.  All  the  large  rivers  passing  through  Antioqua  are  aiiriferons, 
as  also  are  or  have  been  the  majority  of  the  smaller  tributaries.  Of  the 
former  the  principal  are  the  Magdalena,  Cauco  Force,  and  Niehi. 
At  Zaragoza,  the  placers  were  discovered  in  1581,  and  are  said  to 
have  yielded  over  $5,000,000.  Ilydraulicing  has  been  carried  on  suc- 
cessfully at  various  times  on  the  Force  and  Niehi  rivers,  but  all 
attempts  at  dredging,  up  to  the  present  time,  have  been  failures. 

Fromising  placer  deposits  in  Colombia  are  those  of  the  Choco  dis- 
trict, along  the  Atrato  and  San  Juan  rivers.  The  unhealthy  climate 
and  difficulties  of  transport  have  hitherto  prevented  the  successful 
exploration  of  these  placers  by  modern  methods,  though  several  hy- 
draulic claims  have  been  worked  near  the  heads  of  the  rivers  with,  it  is 
claimed,  good  results. 

The  most  important  known  dredging  field  in  Colombia  is  on  the 
Niehi  Eiver,  near  the  town  of  Zaragoza,  where  an  area  of  300  acres  has 
been  proven  payable  dredgeable  ground.  The  gravel  is  said  to  average 
11  yards  deep  and  the  value  to  be  30  cents  a  cubic  yard.  This  property 
is  controlled  by  the  Oroville  Dredging,  Limited,  and  is  part  of  a  eon- 
cession  of  22,000  acres,  the  greater  portion  of  Avhich  has  not  yet  been 
prospected. 

A  hydro-electric  plant  is  being  installed  and  a  California  type  8I/2- 
cubic-foot-bucket  elevator  dredge,  with  steel  hull,  has  been  designed  by 
the  Yuba  Construction  Company,  Marysville,  California,  and  will  soon 
be  shipped  to  the  property.  The  following  abstract  from  an  article  by 
A.  F.  Rodgers  in  The  Engineering  and  Mining  Journal,  gives  an  idea 
of  the  general  conditions  in  the  country. 

Colombia  offers  to-day  several  attractive  features  for  gold  dredging 
operations,  although  the  drawbacks  should  be  well  understood  before 
any  one  attempts  to  invest  his  money  there.  I  spent  several  months 
upon  a  thorough  examination,  which  resulted  favorabl5%  of  a  piece  of 
land  in  that  country  and  as  far  as  I  know  it  is  the  first  expedition  ever 
sent  down  there  that  has  drilled  the  ground  in  the  systematic  manner 
that  such  work  is  done  in  California  and  other  established  fields.  The 
successful  operation  of  a  dredge  upon  this  land  will  be  watched  with 
much  interest,  and  it  is  bound  to  prove  a  stimulus  to  other  similar 
projects  within  a  short  time,  when  the  work  of  equipment  has  been 
completed  and  the  extraction  of  the  gold  has  actually  begun. 

The  conditions  under  which  one  must  work  are  radically  different 
from  those  found  in  the  United  States.  This  land  is  all  situated  within 
10  degrees  of  the  equator,  and  most  of  it  is  at  <\n  elevation  above  sea 
level,  which  is  considered  unfavorable  to  health  in  that  latitude.     The 


288  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

climate  is  tropical  in  every  sense  of  the  word,  while  the  heavj^  and 
violent  rainstorms  during  the  Avet  season — lasting  nearly  nine  months 
of  the  year — turn  the  tiat  areas  suitable  for  dredging  into  veritable 
swamps  which  l)reed  the  malaria  infected  mosquito  by  the  million.  To 
guard  against  these  pests  requires  a  strong  constitution  and  a  sane 
manner  of  living  which  the  northern  man  is  loathe  to  adopt  until  he 
has  gone  through  the  mill. 

A  tropical  jungle  that  is  exceedingly  dense  and  a  cause  of  much 
annoyance  must  be  cleared  off  most  of  the  land.  It  must  be  understood 
that  this  country  is  very  sparsely  populated,  and  practically  the  only 
means  of  travel  is  by  the  large  navigable  rivers,  or  over  frightfully 
rough  and  uncertain  trails  blazed  through  long  stretches  of  impene- 
trable wilds.  Small  settlements  exist  at  intervals  along  the  rivers,  but 
behind  them  there  is  always  the  .jungle  until  another  river  is  reached. 
As  a  consequence  the  traveler  must  carry  his  own  camp  equipment  and 
food  supplies  upon  any  journey  he  intends  to  make  into  the  interior  and 
a  plentiful  supply  of  netting  to  keep  away  the  insects  at  night. 

The  gold  content  of  the  ground  is  often  high  enough  to  prove  very 
attractive  for  dredge  mining,  especially  when  it  is  taken  into  considera- 
tion that  you  can  work  throughout  the  year  with  no  fear  of  an  inter- 
ruption due  to  cold  weather.  The  onl}^  thing  one  must  guard  against 
is  the  chance  of  a  heavy  flood,  if  the  dredge  is  working  on  a  river. 
Such  an  occurrence  is  liable  to  happen  at  any  time  during  the  wet 
season,  and  occasionally  during  the  dry  season,  with  great  rapidity  and. 
produce  startling  results.  For  this  reason  it  is  preferable  to  work 
inland  a  short  distance  where  it  is  possible. 

The  gravel  usually  contains  a  small  percentage  of  clay,  but  in  most 
places  this  is  not  so  much  of  a  hindrance  as  the  lack  of  uniform  values. 
It  is  the  usual  thing  for  the  owners  to  claim  phenomenal  values  through- 
out their  laud,  which  must  always  be  taken  with  a  grain  of  salt.  Rich 
spots  are  quite  common,  but  their  extent  is  usually  rather  limited,  and 
one  must  discount  these  statements  when  a  large  area  is  figured  on. 
There  are  so  many  rivers  in  this  region  flowing  down  from  the  upper 
Andes  that  sufficient  water  power  can  be  developed  in  numerous  places 
for  all  the  dredges  that  are  ever  likely  to  be  installed,  although  one  may 
have  to  go  some  distance  from  his  ground  to  find  the  most  suitable 
location  for  a  power  house. 

The  conditions  iinder  which  the  men  must  live  are  very  trying  in 
some  respects.  A  northerner  going  there  for  the  first  time  should 
exercise  the  same  precautions  he  would  take  if  he  lived  in  a  swampy 
region  here  at  home  during  very  warm  weather.  All  houses  should  be 
built  off  the  ground  upon  some  hilltop,  have  high  ceilings  with  a 
double  roof,  and  wide  verandas.  By  clearing  away  the  jungle  from 
about  the  liouse,  the  warm  sun  will  dvy  things  up  ;nid  a  chance  will 


OTHER  DREDGING  FIELDS.  289 

be  given  to  auy  breeze  that  may  spring  up.  The  soil  over  tliese  low 
lands  is  exceedingly  rich  and  fertile  so  that  a  large  variety  of  vegetables 
can  be  raised  at  your  very  door,  while  cattle  seem  to  thrive.  To  pre- 
pare the  food,  an  imported  cook  is  a  necessity,  as  the  native  knows 
nothing  about  this  important  art.  To  keep  good  men  contented  in  such 
a  country  nothing  pays  better  than  to  set  an  attractive  table. 

The  government  of  Colombia  is  now  considered  fairly  stable  and  it 
is  anxious  to  help  all  legitimate  mining  enterprises  as  much  as  possible. 
There  is  an  export  tax  of  1  per  cent  upon  all  gold  exported  from  the 
country;  but  mining  machinery  is  practically  free  from  duty.  As  far 
as  labor  goes,  it  is  fairly  efficient,  for  the  wages  paid.  The  peon  is 
much  like  a  small  child  and  will  work  to  the  best  of  his  ability,  if 
treated  properly.  Probably  the  most  difficult  problem  to  solve  for  a 
foreign  company,  operating  in  this  field,  will  be  to  secure  the  services 
of  an  efficient  and  honest  corps  of  our  countrymen  to  keep  things 
going.  It  is  a  long  way  from  home  and  the  average  man  is  apt  to  get 
homesick,  if  not  really  sick,  and  then  his  principal  thouaht  is  how  to 
get  north  with  the  least  possible  delay.  This  condition  of  things  neces- 
sitates a  reserve  corps  to  fall  back  on  when  the  occasion  arises.  In 
spite  of  the  drawbacks,  I  look  to  see  considerable  capital  invested  in 
dredging  enterpri.ses  in  Colombia  within  the  next  few  years. 


DREDGING  IN  TRENCH  GUIANA. 

Until  1905  most  of  the  alluvial  gold  had  been  obtained  by  crude 
m.ethods  of  sluicing,  but  in  that  year  a  small  dredge  Mas  put  in  com- 
mission on  the  Courcibo  River,  a  tributary  of  the  Sinnamari.  For 
some  time  it  gave  good  returns,  but  was  eventually  sunk  during  a  flood. 
Two  dredges  w^re  operating  on  the  Lezard  River  in  1907. 

Official  figures  give  but  a  poor  idea  of  the  output  of  French  Guiana. 
The  Carsewene  mine,  which  according  to  the  owners  produced  gold 
to  the  value  of  80.000,000  to  100,000,000  francs  from  the  year  1894  to 
1900.  only  supplied  21.000.000  to  22.000.000  francs  worth  to  Cayenne. 
The  Inini  mine,  on  the  Dutch  frontier,  shipped  more  than  half  the  gold 
to  Holland.  Finally,  many  miners  from  the  British .  Antilles  carry 
away  their  own  gold.  All  this  gold  was  produced  with  the  littk^  (hiiana 
sluice.  Hitherto  the  small  rivers  or  creeks  of  French  Guiana  have 
been  mined  chiefly  by  hand  labor  and  small  sluices,  long  toms,  where 
there  is  not  too  much  water  nor  too  great  a  thickness  of  overburden. 
The  overburden  is  often  2  to  3  metres  deep,  whereas  the  gold  wash  is 
only  30  to  40  centimetres.  Gravel  sand  with  3  to  4  grammes  of  gold 
per  cubic  metre  has  been  profitably  worked.  This  seems  a  fair  per- 
centage, but  circumstances  are  unfavorable;  provisions  are  very  dear, 

19— GD 


290  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

and  the  alluvials  very  clayey  and  adhesive ;  consequently,  dredges  have 
been  adopted.  At  the  end  of  the  current  year  there  will  be  five  dredges 
working  in  the  colony,  the  type  of  which  was  only  selected  after  many 
experiments.  The  most  conclusive  were  made  at  the  Elyse  placer,  in 
the  River  Lezard,  and  others  in  the  Courcibo  and  Sparwin.  The  Crique 
Roche  has  been  carefully  prospected.  A  dredge  is  being  built  for  each 
of  these  rivers.  There  are  other  rivers  equally  rich,  yet  to  be  opened 
out.    Results  already  obtained  are  as  follows: 

1.  There  is  no  difficulty  in  removing  the  wood  buried  in  the  alluvions 
any  more  than  large  boulders ;  it  is  a  matter  of  practice. 

2.  Washing  is  operated  with  jets  of  water  in  the  trommel  of  the 
dredge  or  (particularly  when  there  is  hard  clay  adhering  to  the 
buckets)  with  picks.    An  automatic  washer  is  being  tried. 

3.  It  has  been  found  possible  to  instruct  the  natives  in  the  manage- 
ment of  a  dredge.  This  is  important,  because,  during  the  fifty  years 
gold  has  been  known  to  exist,  the  labor  problem  has  paralyzed  all  indus- 
trial enterprise.     There  must,  however,  be  a  white  overseer.* 

The  gold  placers  are  mostly  rich.  Over  stretches  of  1  to  2  kilometres, 
the  average  yield  was  3  to  4  francs  per  cubic  metre  for  a  width  of  30 
to  40  metres.  Dredging  only  exceptionally  gave  more,  though  this  is 
probably  due  to  defective  prospecting.  Costs  are  still  very  great— 1.80 
to  2  francs  per  cubic  metre.  In  any  case,  the  alluvials,  often  very  rich, 
have  been  ample  compensation  for  the  absence  of  vein  formations,  and 
likely  to  continue  to  be  so,  thanks  to  systematic  dredging. 

fGold  dredging  in  French  Guiana  seems  to  be  successful  when 
working  in  the  beds  of  the  rivers.  In  view  of  this  two  modern  gold 
dredges  are  soon  to  be  shipped  to  French  Guiana  to  work  on  the  de- 
posits of  the  Sparwin  River,  a  tributary  of  the  IMaroni  (Ste.  Anonyme 
du  Sparwin)  and  of  the  Courcibo  River,  a  tributary  of  the  Sinnamary 
(Cie.  Coloniale  de  Dragages  Auriferes).  They  are  of  the  open-link 
continuous  bucket  type,  with  4.5-cubic-foot  buckets  designed  to  work 
at  a  depth  of  9  metres.  The  pontoon  and  gantries  are  entirely  made 
of  steel.  A  special  feature  of  these  dredges  is  a  double  revolving  screen, 
33  feet  long,  intended  to  disintegrate  thoroughly  the  clayey  alluvials 
which  are  met  with  in  Guiana.  Besides  the  ordinary  spray  pipe  leading 
from  the  centrifugal  pump,  two  rows  of  monitors,  fed  by  a  Knowles 
pressure  pump,  will  help  to  disintegrate  the  gravel.  To  prevent  clay 
from  sticking  on  the  Turner  gold-saving  tables,  a  special  water  jet 
has  been  arranged  over  the  tables. 

fTlie  Compagnie  Coloniale  de  Dragages  Auriferes  and  the  Societe 
Anonyme  du  Sparwin  report  that  the  5-cubic-foot  gold  dredges  they 
sent  to  French  Guiana  have  arrived  and  are  now  under  erection. 


*The  Mining  Journal,  from   "La  Nature." 
■j-Engineering  and  Mining  Journal. 


OTHER  DREDGIXG  FIELDS.  291 

DREDGING  IN  DUTCH  GUIANA. 

Considerable  placer  mining  is  being  carried  on  in  Dutch  Guiana 
along  the  Saramaca.  Surinarane,  and  Marowijne  rivers  and  their  tribu- 
taries. Like  French  Guiana,  Dutch  Guiana  is  very  rich  in  alluvials, 
and  most  of  the  gold  is  produced  by  washing  the  gold-bearing  material 
through  sluices,  or  long  toms.  where  there  is  not  too  much  water  or  a 
too  heavy  overburden.  Dredging  for  gold  with  small  Holland-l)uilt 
dredges  has  been  carried  on  along  the  Saramaca  and  Marowijne  rivers. 
The  climate  is  not  bad  and  the  country'  is  rich  in  gold  placers.  Probably 
the  best  informed  American  on  the  gold  placers  of  Dutch  Guiana  is 
Dr.  W.  H.  Bradley.  American  Consul  at  Paramaribo,  the  capital  town 
of  Dutch  Guiana. 

BRITISH  GUIANA. 

The  alluvial  gold  of  British  Guiana  is  found  in  the  gravels  of  the 
existing  streams.  Only  one  hydraulicing  company  has  carried  on 
operations.  This  company,  the  Demerara  Exploration  Company,  com- 
menced work  at  Omai  on  the  Essequibo  River  in  1902,  but  by  1907  had 
exhausted  its  sluicing  ground  and  ceased  operations  in  that  direction. 
In  1904,  the  company  placed  a  small  dredge  on  Gilt  Creek,  and.  its 
operations  being  successful,  a  larger  dredge  was  placed  in  commission 
in  June,  1906.  Dredging  at  Omai  meets  with  some  difficulty  on  account 
of  buried  logs  and  trees.  On  the  Conawaruk  River  a  large  dredge  was 
erected  and  commenced  work  in  January.  1907,  but  information  is  not 
available  at  the  present  writing  as  to  the  outcome. 

*Iu  1907.  about  80  per  cent  of  the  gold  yield  of  British  Guiana  was 
produced  by  the  individual  miner  and  small  parties.  The  total  output 
being  estimated  at  over  .$1,500,000. 

GOLD  DREDGING  GROUND  IN  PERU  AND  BOLIVIA. 

Alluvial  gold  occurs  in  several  of  the  rivers  of  southern  Bolivia.  A 
recent  attempt  to  dredge  the  gravels  of  the  Rio  San  Juan  de  Oro,  near 
Tupiza.  resulted  in  a  failure.  One  of  the  three  dredges  that  had  been 
in  operation  there  was  dismantled  in  1908,  and  reconstructed  on  the 
Quebrada  de  Esmorca.  a  neighboring  tributary  of  the  San  Juan. 

The  Tipuani  River  in  the  Larecja  Province,  is  the  richest  in  Bolivia. 
The  auriferous  gravels  of  the  Tipuani  are  of  great  depth  and  true  bed- 
rock is  seldom  reached.  Concentration  of  gold  generally  occurs  on 
false  bottoms  of  ferruginous  conglomerates  locally  known  as  eargalli. 
Other  placer  deposits  of  value  are  at  Yaiii.  Tacacoma,  and  Chuqui- 
aguillo. 


♦Gold,  its  Occurrence  and  Distribution,  J.  Malcolm  Madaren. 


292  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

Placer  deposits  are  numerous  in  Peru  in  the  province  of  Sandia, 
north  of  Titicaca  and  southeast  of  Carabaza.  The  value  of  the  gravels 
near  Aporona  has  been  estimated  at  20  cents  per  cubic  j^ard.  Hydraul- 
icking  has  been  carried  on  with  success  in  some  districts,  and  the  natives 
recover  considerable  gold  by  paving  the  dry  beds  of  the  streams  with 
stones ;  the  gold  settling  in  the  interstices  between  the  stones  during  the 
floods  of  the  wet  season.  The  conglomerate  gravels  of  the  Poto  are  said 
to  be  from  60  to  180  feet  thick. 

Dredging  on  a  large  scale  was  being  inaugurated  in  1907  on  the  Rio 
Inambari  in  the  Carabaya  Province,  and  on  the  boundary  between 
Peru  and  Bolivia.  The  placers  of  Pataz  and  Sandia,  as  well  as  those 
of  the  Rio  Nusemescato,  were  also  being  investigated. 

*Several  American  and  English  companies  have  been  operating  gold 
placer  properties  in  Peru  and  Bolivia,  at  the  headwaters  of  the  Ama- 
zon. Roads  have  been  built  at  large  expense  and  considerable  equipment 
taken  in  to  the  properties.  The  following  description  of  the  country 
and  future  possibilities  is  of  interest. 

Since  the  times  of  the  Incas,  rough  trails  have  existed  between  the 
Inca  centers  of  Titicaca  and  Cuzxo  and  the  ravines  of  the  eastern 
Cordilleras,  which  culminate  in  the  Kaka  River  close  to  the  small  village 
of  Guanay.  The  most  important  of  these  precipitous  valleys  have  been 
formed  on  the  rivers  Tepuani.  Mapiri,  Challana,  and  Corvico. 

A  great  amount  of  work  was  done  in  early  days  but  nothing  has  been 
done  in  modern  times  save  by  an  occasional  prospector.  The  upper 
rivers  are  difficult  to  work  because  of  the  great  boulders  which  are 
frequent  and  the  torrential  nature  of  the  streams.  They  come  together 
to  form  the  Kaka  just  below  Guanay  and  run  through  a  succession  of 
narrow  canyons  for  about  20  miles,  until  Incahuara  is  reached.  Below 
Incahuara  the  canyons  of  the  Kaka  wander  out  into  great  flats,  often 
several  miles  wide,  of  shallow  depth,  and  it  is  here  that  gravel  deposits 
were  formed. 

Transportation  is  a  serious  difficulty.  Rough  mule  trails  are  the 
only  means  of  entering  this  region  and  the  transportation  of  heavy 
machinery  is  almost  impossible  until  roads  of  some  kind  are  built. 

f  Practically  all  that  has  been  done  in  prospecting  the  Incahuara  and 
Inambari  gravels  has  been  to  ascertain  surface  richness.  At  Incahuara, 
however,  the  ground  was  found  to  contain  value,  the  total  depth  ex- 
plored, of  16  feet.  At  no  place  has  bedrock  been  reached,  neither  has 
the  bed  of  either  river  been  examined.  Companies  are  now  proceeding 
to  test  these  gravels  by  actual  working. 

The  only  practical  method  of  working  these  gravels  is  dredging. 

♦Abstract  from  report  of  Alexander  Benison,  La  Paz,  in  the  Engineering  and  Min- 
ing Journal. 

•j-Abstract  from  report  of  M.  Conway. 


OTHER  DREDGING  FIELDS.  293 

The  grouud  does  not  fall  steeply  euoiigh  for  sluicing  or  liydrauiieking. 
At  Ineahiiara,  for  instance,  and  along  most  of  the  reaches  of  the  lower 
Inaniliari  (except  where  torrential  side  streams  enter  it)  there  are  no 
bonlders,  and  on  neither  river  is  there  hard  clay ;  the  gravel  is  composed 
of  loose  stones  and  sand. 

At  Incahnara  the  ])edrock  is  sandstone  and  can  be  easily  scraped  by 
the  lip  of  the  dredge  buckets ;  a  similar  bedrock  appears  on  the  Inam- 
bari.  The  current  of  neither  river  is  swift  enough  to  cause  danger  to 
the  dredge. 

The  transportation  of  dredges  to  these  remote  places  is  difficult  and 
costly ;  in  the  ease  of  the  Incahuara  dredge,  a  considerable  part  of  the 
machinery  is  said  to  have  been  already  transported  to  the  site.  Accord- 
ing to  report,  the  Ollachea  road  presents  no  greater  difficulties  than 
does  the  Caravani. 

The  only  part  of  the  ground  on  the  Inambari  and  Beni  rivers  that 
has  been  examined  by  competent  men  is  the  Incahuara  basin,  which 
contains  about  10,000,000  cubic  yards  of  dredgeable  gravel.  The  sur- 
face has  nowhere  yielded  less  than  19  cents  a  cubic  yard,  w^hile  large 
areas  average  at  least  a  dollar.  An  average  value  of  75  cents  per  cubic 
yard  is  not  an  extravagant  estimate ;  of  course,  local  authorities  put  the 
average  much  higher.  The  gold  from  the  Inambari  resembles,  in  shape 
and  quality,  the  gold  ol)tained  from  the  Kaka  or  Beni  River.  It  is  flat 
and  relatively  thick. 

For  100  miles  below  the  Incahuara  basin  it  is  believed  that  the  Beni 
gravels  yielded  gold.  There  are  numbers  of  places  that  have  been 
definitely  located,  so  that  in  all  probal)ility  the  Incahuara  basin  is  a 
mere  fractional  part  of  the  dredgeable  ground  on  the  Beni. 

On  the  Inambari,  if  no  spot  has  been  so  carefully  examined  as  the 
Incahuara.  a  much  longer  stretch  of  the  river  has  been  rapidly  sampled 
by  more  than  one  prospector,  high  values  to  the  ('ul)ic  yard  being 
revealed.  The  Inam]);iri.  therefore,  is  likely  to  yield  as  much  gold  as 
the  Beni. 

*GOLD  PLACERS  Or  TIERRA  DEL  PUEGO. 

Until  recently  llie  birgest  gold  mining  operatii»iis  were  at  Paramo 
and  Lennox  Island,  but  since  the  introduction  of  dredges  the  most 
active  oi)erations  are  on  the  northwesterji  part  of  the  main  island  of 
Tierra  del  P^uego,  across  the  strait  of  jNIagellan  from  Punta  Arenas. 
Here  the  town  of  Poweiiir  is  the  head(|uarters  of  the  industry. 

This  town  is  now  a  pi'osperous  mining  center  of  about  800  people. 
In  addition  to  the  Powenir  region  mining  on  a  small  scale  of  more  or 
less  importiuiee  is  si  ill  yoiuL;-  on  at  some  of  the  other  localities. 


•Abstracts  from  papers  by  R.  A.  Penrose,  Jr.,  S.  H.  Loram,  and  from  "Estadistica 
Minera  de  Chile"  of  1908. 


294  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

The  chief  center  of  civilization  in  the  whole  region  is  the  Chilean 
town  of  Punta  Arenas,  on  the  Patagonian  side  of  the  strait.  This  town 
has  a  fairly  good  harbor,  is  an  active  place  of  12,000  population  and 
the  seat  of  government  for  this  part  of  the  Chilean  possessions.  The 
settlement  of  Ushuwaia,  the  seat  of  government  for  the  Argentine 
part  of  Tierra  del  Fuego.  is  only  a  small  place.  Punta  Arenas  is  in 
50^  9'  42"  south  latitude,  and  has  the  distinction  of  being  the  most 
southerly  town  of  any  considerable  size  in  the  southern  hemisphere. 
Those  interested  in  the  geology  of  the  region  will  find  useful  informa- 
tion in  "Geological  Observations  in  South  America"  by  Charles 
Darwin. 

In  Tierra  del  Fuego  the  surface  is  rolling  country,  cut  through  by 
seaworn  valleys  and  straits,  and  terminating  on  the  east  coast  in  what 
is  really  a  vertical  section  along  that  particular  line,  with  some  cliffs 
50  to  60  metres  high.  Judging  by  the  pebbles  the  deposit  was  derived 
from  the  denudation  of  horublende-quartz-schist,  diorite,  syenite, 
andesite,  and  clay-slates.  The  first  three  of  these  are  well  known,  as 
the  country  rocks  contain  gold-bearing  lodes,  besides  carrying  small 
quantities  of  the  precious  metal  themselves,  consequently  the  detritus 
from  them  might  lie  expected  also  to  contain  gold,  even  if  in  minute 
quantities,  as  in  the  present  case.  Once  above  sea  level  denudation 
started  on  the  accumulated  soft  beds  by  wave  action;  wide  bays,  inlets 
and  channels  were  cut,  the  lighter  particles  being  carried  away,  while 
the  gravel  and  heavier  constituents,  as  oxide  of  iron,  garnet,  gold,  and 
the  like,  remained  behind  in  concentrated  form. 

Nearly  all  the  gold  of  the  Magellan  region,  so  far  as  known,  is  in 
alluvial  deposits ;  few  gold-bearing  veins  have  been  found.  The  alluvial 
deposits  may  be  divided  into  two  classes,  those  in  beds  of  creeks  or 
hillsides,  and  those  on  sea  beaches,  where  they  are  subject  to  the  action 
of  the  sea;  during  the  high  spring  tide,  the  rise  and  fall  of  the  tide  is 
45  feet  and  in  winter  there  are  occasional  furious  storms.  This  action 
of  the  sea  has  had  much  to  do  with  the  forming  of  the  richer  deposits 
on  the  beaches.  Mining  by  hand  labor  and  washing  the  beach  sand 
and  gravel  in  long-toms  has  been  carried  on  with  more  or  less  success 
for  some  years.  In  the  mineral  statistics  of  Chile  it  is  estimated  that 
the  production  for  the  whole  region  during  1903  and  1904  was  137  and 
170  kilograms,  respectively,  practically  all  of  which  came  from  the 
small  workings. 

The  alluvial  deposits  in  beds  of  streams  and  in  hillsides  vary  in  con- 
tent from  a  few  cents  to  $1  or  more  a  cubic  yard.  Most  of  the  ground 
noAV  worked  is  claimed  to  average  from  25  to  50  cents  per  cubic  yard. 
Under  the  existing  conditions  it  is  difficult  to  make  low  grade  ground 
pay.  The  gold-bearing  beds  vary  from  a  few  feet  to  10  or  30  feet  deep ; 
an  overburden  of  liarren  ground  often  occurs. 


OTHER  DREDGING  FIELDS.  295 

Prospecting  is  a  more  difficult  task  than  in  most  places.  Traveling 
is  done  mostly  in  boats,  as  the  land  is  cut  up  by  deep  tide  water  chan- 
nels and  bays  and  covered  with  dense  underbrush  or  immense  peat  bogs, 
while  everywhere,  even  on  the  mountain  sides,  the  soil  is  soft  and  boggy, 
so  that  walking  is  difficult  and  often  impossible. 

The  climate,  though  stormy,  is  not  extreme,  the  thermometer  rarely 
going  much  belo\\'  zero,  or  greatly  above  60°  Fahrenheit ;  the  mean 
temperature  in  winter  being  about  33°  and  in  summer  about  50° 
Fahrenheit.  The  season  during  Avhich  mining  can  be  carried  on  is 
from  August  to  ]\Iay. 

The  history  of  the  dredging  operations  to  the  present  time  has,  with 
few  exception>s.  been  a  succession  of  failures,  caused,  on  the  main,  by 
ill-advised  projects  or  wild-cat  promoters,  and  to  a  smaller  extent  by 
the  use  of  badly  designed  and  poorly  constructed  dredges. 

The  first  company  to  install  a  dredge,  according  to  the  "Estadistica 
Minera  de  Chile,'"  was  the  Compania  Sutphen  de  Lavaderos  de  Oro, 
which  was  formed  in  Buenos  Aires  in  1903,  but  on  account  of  a  series 
of  delays  from  various  causes  £30.000  and  two  years'  time  were  spent 
before  the  dredge  was  ready  to  begin  operations  on  the  Rio  del  Oro. 
According  to  S.  H.  Loram  this  dredge  was  built  to  handle  small  gravel 
only,  and  was  not  provided  with  grizzlies  or  trommel,  whereas  opera-, 
tions  showed  up  many  boulders  of  various  sizes,  some  large  enough  to 
stall  the  digging  engine  when  encountered.  Breakdowns  were  frequent 
on  account  of  the  clay  bottom:  considerable  difficulty  was  experienced 
in  washing  the  gravel  and  in  getting  the  buckets  to  dump.  However, 
results  were  siifficiently  encouraging  to  permit  an  increase  in  the  cap- 
italization of  the  company  and  four  large  dredges  were  ordered  from 
Holland. 

JMean while,  the  gold  excitement  had  spread  and  land  was  taken  up 
all  over  the  island.  Glowing  reports  were  issued  ofttimes  without  the 
slightest  knowledge  of  conditions.  One  company'  in  the  most  accessible 
part  of  the  island  began  work  on  the  basis  of  two  drill  holes,  one  at 
either  end  of  the  property.  The  majority  of  the  companies  did  not 
even  go  to  that  trouble  until  after  the  dredge  was  installed  on  the 
property. 

A  significant  feature  was  that  gold  dust  and  nuggets  were  at  a 
premium  of  nearly  100  per  cent.  Generally  the  showing  of  dust  sup- 
posed to  have  come  from  a  property  backed  by  the  statements  of  an 
"engineer"  (who  was  to  receive  the  greater  part  of  his  pay  in  shares 
of  the  company,  if  formed)  was  sufficient  to  find  all  the  capital  called 
for.  Below  is  given  an  incomplete  list  of  the  companies  formed,  with 
the  capitalization  of  each.  To  these  must  be  added  a  considerable 
amount  of  private  capital  and  also  those  companies  that  did  not  get 
organized  in  time  for  the  boom.  The  shares  of  most  of  tliese  listed 
companies  wci-c  at  one  time  quoted  at  a  premium. 


296  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

*List  of  Principal  Companies  Formed  to  Work  Gold  in  Magellan  Territory  1903-1906. 

Cia.  Sutphen  de  Lavaderos  de  Oro,  later  increased  to t-.<X)0.O00 

Cia.  Dnisaje  Rio  del  Oro  de  Tierra  del  Ftiego tSS.OOO 

Cia.   Drasaje  Rio   Verde ^ $70,000 

Soc.  Lavaderos  de  Oro  de  Tierra  del  Fuego $300,000 

Cia.  Dragaje  de  Rio  fiallego  Chico $35,000 

Cia.  Dragaje  de  Rio  Palo $35,000 

Cia.  Dragaje  de  Rio  Sau  ^lartiu $62,000 

Cia.  Dragaje  de  America $i00,000 

Cia.  Rios  Unidos  de  Tierra  del  Fuego $40,000 

Cia.  Dragaje  del  Rio  Progreso $70,000 

Cia.  Exploradora  de  Rio  Grande $40,000 

Soc.  Exploradora  de  Ultima  Esperauza $10,000 

Soc.  Chorillos  de  Rio  del  Oro $50,000 

Rio  Oscar  Dredging  Co 1250,000 

Soc.  Exploradora  de  Minas  de  Magallanes $15,000 

Soc.  Carmen  Silva $35,000 

Cia.  Argentina  de  Esploracion  en  Tierra  del  Fuego $400,000 

Cia.  Aurifera  de  Punta  Delgada t750,000 

Cia.  Minera  Rio  Colorado t300,000 

Cia.  Loi-eto  

Cia.  Aurifera  de  Lennox 

Cia.   Brunswick   

Cia.  Rosario 

Of  the  above  list,  according  to  Mr.  Loram,  the  only  companies  carry- 
ing on  active  operations  to-day  are  the  Sntphen  and  Lennox,  with  what 
results  is  unknown.  Of  the  rest  it  is  difficult  to  get  particulars,  and 
their  shares  are  no  longer  ciuoted.  Three,  the  Rio  del  Oro,  Rio  Verde, 
and  Rio  Progreso,  which  were  formed,  floated  and  managed  by  John  D. 
Roberts,  once  well  digger,  then  dredge  expert,  and  transitory  Gold 
King  of  Sandy  Point,  liquidated  in  June,  1908.  The  first  two  lost  all 
their  capital  and  had  some  small  debts,  the  third  was  more  fortunate 
and  expected  to  return  33  pence  for  each  £1  share. 

According  to  a  statement  issued  to  the  stockholders  the  dredge  started 
work  November  11,  1907,  and  stopped  March  14,  1908,  had  run  80  days 
and  been  stopped  44.  During  this  time  it  produced  8,988  grammes  gold 
(fineness  not  stated)  corresponding  to  112  grammes  per  working  day. 
The  secretary  of  the  company  stated  that  he  believed  the  capacity  of 
the  dredge  to  be  1,000  cubic  metres  per  day,  so  the  production  would 
work  out  0.112  grammes  per  cubic  metre,  or  .0082  of  an  ounce  per 
cubic  yard. 

According  to  the  Estadistica  Miner  most  of  the  dredges  seeni  to  have 
been  constructed  in  Holland ;  they  were  operated  with  steam  power, 
and  coal  has  been  the  fuel  most  used.  On  account  of  transportation  the 
cost  of  coal  is  excessive  and  experiments  have  been  made  to  burn  turf 
or  peat  with,  it  is  stated,  good  results. 

J\Iost  of  the  dredging  companies,  so  far  as  known,  were  of  Argentine 
or  Chilean  origin.  The  Queen  Gold  Dredging  Company  of  London 
acquired   land  on   Tierra   del  Fuego  in   1908   and   installed   a   dredge 

*By  S.  H.  Loram.       fArgentine  pesos.       tChilean  pesos. 


OTHER   DREDGING  FIELDS.  297 

designed  by  Ciitten  Bros.  In  July.  11)0!),  however,  according  to  The 
Mining  Manual,  it  was  resolved  to  wind  up  the  affairs  of  the  company 
voluntarily;  data  as  to  actual  operations,  if  any,  is  not  furnished. 

GOLD  DREDGING  IN  ECUADOR. 

Little  information  is  available  of  the  mineral  resources  of  Ecuador. 
The  United  States  Gold  Dredging  and  Rubber  Company  of  New  York 
is  interested  in  a  placer  deposit  in  the  province  of  Esmeralda,  and 
Coats  &  Associates  of  London  also  control  large  property  interests  in 
the  same  province.  The  Ecuadoran  government  is  anxious  to  interest 
■foreign  capital  to  develop  mining  enterprises,  and  has  established 
liberal  mining  laws. 

GOLD  DREDGING  IN  BRAZIL 

Of  late  years  dredging  companies  have  been  floated  in  Buenos  Aires 
to  dredge  rivers  descending  from  the  ]\Iatto  Grosso  central  hills.  They 
have  almost  all  been  failures,  however,  although  gold  undoubtedly 
exists.  The  difficulty  of  transportation  is  a  serious  drawback.  The 
most  accessible  parts  of  ]\Iatto  Grosso  are  a  three  weeks'  journey  up 
the  Parana  River  system,  and  communication  is  unreliable. 

A  dredge  was  installed  in  1902,  to  work  the  gravels  of  the  Coxipo  de 
Ouro,  which  flows  into  the  Cuyaba.  These  gravels  had  been  w^orked 
for  many  years  by  native  methods.  It  is  claimed  that  this  dredge  oper- 
ated successfully.  Other  dredging  areas  are  on  the  Piracicaba  River, 
which  flows  into  the  Rio  Tiete,  a  tributary  of  the  Parana.  In  the 
province  of  Minas  Gereas,  dredges  are  in  operation  on  the  Rio  das 
Mortes  and  the  Ribierao  de  Carmo. 

*The  following  is  given  as  a  list  of  operating  Rio  Plata  dredging  com- 
panies: Brumado  Gold  Dredging  Company.  Cabaeal  Gold  Dredging 
Company.  ]\ratto  Grosso  Gold  Dredging  Company,  Diamantino  (^latto 
Gross),  Este  Matto  Grosso  Company. 

GOLD  DREDGING  IN  ARGENTINA. 

Auriferous  gravels  are  found  in  the  Ju.juy  province,  also  at  Fama- 
tina,  and  in  the  eastern  portion  of  Tierra  del  Fuego.  Gold  is  also 
found  in  the  provinces  of  San  Luis.  San  .Juan.  Tacunian.  Calainarca 
and  Salt  a. 

There  have  been  some  minor  dredi^ing  opi'i-ations  in  the  northern 
rivers  which,  however,  do  not  seem  to  have  been  very  successful,  though 
several  dredges  are  reported  to  be  still  working.  At  the  head  of  the 
Neuquen  River,  in  the  Cordilleras,  the  auriferous  area  is  said  to  lie  of 
eonsideral)le  extent  and  has  been  sucfcssrii.lly  worked  for  years  by 
Chileans,  in  a  small  way  by  ground  sluicing. 

♦Bulletin  of  the  Bureau  of  American  Republics. 


298  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

^DREDGING  IN  KELANTAN,  MALAY  PENINSULA. 

The  Duff  Developnieut  Company  own  the  only  four  dredges  on  the 
Kelantan  River,  which  flows  to  the  east  coast  of  the  Malay  Peninsula, 
and  which  is  600  to  800  feet  wide,  about  100  miles  inland,  at  the  place 
where  the  dredges  have  been  working.  During  two  months  one  of  the 
dredges  won  1.600  ounces  of  gold.  The  biggest  return  the  company  has 
had  from  one  dredge  was  375  ounces  for  one  week.  Each  dredge  has  a 
dredgemaster,  three  European  winchmen — one  for  each  shift — and 
about  16  native  hands.  The  dredgemasters  received  a  salary  of  about 
$2,000.  the  European  winchmen  about  $1,500.  and  the  native  coolies 
50  cents  per  day.  Firemen  and  greasers  got  60  cents  and  native  winch- 
men 70  cents.  Expenses  are  considerably  heavier  than  in  New  Zealand, 
but  a  man  could  have  everything  necessary  for  about  $10  per  week. 
Generally  speaking,  the  climate  is  good.  It  is  moist  and  warm,  but  not 
so  oppressive  as  is  generally  supposed.  The  rainy  season  usually  lasts 
only  a  week  or  a  fortnight,  and  at  such  times  the  rivers  rise  perhaps 
30  or  40  feet  in  24  hours,  but  fall  again  just  as  quickly.  There  are 
numbers  of  other  smaller  rivers  on  the  ]\Ialay  Peninsula  on  which 
nothing  has  ever  been  done  beyond  a  little  prospecting. 

KOREAN  GOLD  PLACERS. 

fPlacer  gold  is  found  in  almost  every  prefecture  in  Korea;  but 
practically  all  the  deposits  are  too  low  grade  to  attract  foreign  capital 
and  the  richer  ones  have  mostly  been  worked  out.  The  native  method 
of  mining  is  by  sluicing ;  a  small  stream  of  water  is  conducted  through 
a  ditch  lined  with  stones.  The  gravel  is  excavated  with  picks  and  the 
fine  gravel  shoveled  into  the  ditch,  the  boulders  being  thrown  to  one 
side.  The  gold  is  recovered  by  panning  the  concentrates  removed  from 
the  sluice  in  large  wooden  pans.    No  mercury  is  used. 

The  Koreans  as  laborers  are  inferior  to  the  Chinese,  except  perhaps 
as  underground  miners,  for  which  they  seem  to  have  a  natural  aptitude. 
The  average  Shantung  coolie  is  strong,  energetic,  good  natured,  and 
usually  tractable.  The  best  feature  of  the  labor  situation  in  Korea  is 
the  fact  that  Chinese  and  Koreans  do  not  pull  together  and  a  strike  by 
one  nationality  may  always  l)e  l>roken  by  employing  the  other.  The 
climate  is  healthful,  water  is  abundant,  and  power  may  frequently  be 
developed  at  small  expense.  Transportation  is  by  bullock  cart  or  pack 
horses.  Fuel  and  timber  are  scarce,  which  is  a  serious  factor  in  suc- 
cssful  operations  of  mining  enterprises.  Where  timber  is  found,  it  is 
usually  oak  or  pine.  The  only  extensive  forest  areas  are  in  the  extreme 
north  of  the  country,  near  the  Manchurian  frontier. 

*From  the  Mining  and  Scientific  Press,   1909. 

fAbstract  from  "Tlie  Mineral  Resources  of  Korea,"  by  H.  R.  Robins.  Trans.  A.  1. 
M.  E.,  Vol.  39. 


OTHER  DREDGING  FIELDS.  299 

*The  District  of  (.'liiksan  has  been  one  of  the  most  profitable  placer 
fields  worked  by  the  Korealis.  For  some  time  past  Japanese  have  been 
successfully  working  portions  of  these  placers  by  sluicing.  The  condi- 
tions for  successful  work  of  this  kind  have  ])een  unsatisfactory.  There 
being  comparatively  little  water  and  a  very  slight  fall,  all  the  pay  dirt 
has  been  carried  to  the  sluice  lioxes  on  the  backs  of  Koreazi  coolies. 

The  pay  gravel  occurs  principally  in  a  stratum  of  about  3  feet  on  bed- 
rock. Recent  investigations  have  proved  that  there  are  values  in  the 
overburden,  though  not  in  sufficient  quantity  to  make  it  profitaljle  to 
run  the  same  through  the  sluices.  The  depth  of  the  overburden  varies 
from  7  to  30  feet,  most  of  it  being  about  18  feet  in  depth.  There  are 
no  ])oulders  larger  than  8  or  10  inches,  the  greater  portion  of  the  over- 
burden being  gravel  with  stones  aliout  the  size  of  an  egg.  The  bedrock 
is  soft  decomposed  schist,  which  may  he  dug  with  a  spade  to  a  depth 
of  2  or  3  feet.  While  there  is  very  little  water  on  the  surface,  there 
would  be  sufficient  for  dredge  operation. 

So  far  as  can  be  determined  from  available  information,  there  have 
been  no  gold  dredges  operated  in  Korea.  Tests  have  been  made  of 
different  placer  areas,  but  apparently  with  indifferent  results ;  accord- 
ing to  the  Consular  Report  for  1907.  tests  in  the  Usan  fields  demon- 
strated average  values  from  5  to  6  cents  only.  It  has  been  recently 
reported  that  some  Japanesexjompanies  were  to  install  dredges  and  had 
sent  representatives  to  California  to  gain  information  of  operating 
methods  and  drediie  construction. 


DREDGING  IN  WEST  AfRICA. 

In  the  Gold  Coast  Colony  where  dredging  operations  have  been  car- 
ried on  for  some  years,  the  principal  dredging  rivers  are  the  Offin 
Ankobra  and  Birrim. 

In  French  Guinea  dredges  have  been  working  on  the  Tankisso  River 
and  auriferous  areas  are  being  examined  in  the  district  between  the 
Senegal  and  Niger  rivers  where  dredges  will  be  installed  if  the  engi- 
neers report  favorably. 
^ . — _ 

♦Abstract   from  United  States  Consular  Report  for   1907. 


APPENDIX. 


CALIFORNIA  STATE  MINING  BUREAU. 

This  institution  is  the  chief  souree  of  reliable  information  about  the 
mineral  resources  and  mining'  industries  of  California. 

It  is  eneouraiied  in  its  work  by  the  fact  that  its  publications  have  been 
in  such  demand  that  large  editions  are  soon  exhausted.  In  fact,  copies 
of  them  now  command  high  prices  in  the  market. 

The  publications,  as  soon  as  issued,  find  their  way  to  the  scientifie, 
public,  and  i)rivate  libraries  of  all  counti'ies. 

STATE    MINERALOGIST. 

The  California  State  jNIining  Bureau  is  under  the  supervision  of  a 
State  ]\Iineralogist  and  Board  of  Trustees. 

It  is  supported  by  legislative  appropriations,  and  in  some  degree  per- 
forms work  similar  to  that  of  the  geological  surveys  of  other  states,  but 
its  purposes  and  functions  are  mainly  practical,  the  scientific  work  being 
clearly  subordinate  to  the  economic  phases  of  the  mineral  field,  as  shown 
by  the  organic  law  governing  the  Bureau,  which  is  as  follows : 

Sec.  4.  It  shall  be  tlu'  duty  of  said  State  Mineralogist  to  make,  facilitate,  and 
enconrase  special  studies  of  tlie  mineral  resources  and  mineral  industries  of  the 
State.  It  shall  be  his  duty  :  To  collect  statistics  concerninjj  the  occurrence  of  the 
economically  important  minerals  and  the  methods  pursued  in  making  their  valuable 
constituents  available  for  commercial  use  ;  to  make  a  collection  of  typical  geological 
and  mincn-alogical  specimens,  especially  those  of  economic  or  commercial  imiwrtance, 
such  collection  constituting  the  Museum  of  tht>  State  Mining  Bureau  :  to  i)rovide  a 
library  of  books,  reports,  drawings,  jjearing  upon  the  mineral  industries,  the  sciences 
of  mineralogy  and  geology  and  the  arts  of  mining  and  metallurgy,  such  library  con- 
stituting the  Library  of  the  State  Mining  Bureau  :  to  make  a  collection  of  models, 
drawings,  and  descriptions  of  the  mechanical  appliances  used  in  mining  and  metal- 
lurgical processes :  to  preserve  and  so  maintain  such  collections  and  library  as  to 
make  them  available  for  reference  and  examination,  and  open  to  public  inspection 
at  reasonable  hours  :  to  maintain,  in  effect,  a  bureau  of  information  concerning  the 
mineral  industries  of  this  State,  to  consist  of  such  collections  and  lil)rary.  and  to 
arrange,  classify,  catalogue,  and  index  the  data  therein  contained,  in  a  niannei'  to 
make  the  information  available  to  tiiose  desiring  it.  and  to  provide  a  custodian 
six^cially  qualified  to  jiromote  this  jjurpose:  to  make  a  biennial  report  to  the  Board 
of  Trustees  of  the  Mining  Bureau,  setting  forth  the  important  results  of  his  work. 
and  to  issue  from  time  to  time  such  bulletins  as  he  may  deem  advisable  concernimr 
the  statistics  and  technology  of  the  mineral  industries  of  this  State. 

THE    BULLETINS. 

The  field  covered  by  the  books  issued  iindcr  this  title  is  shown  in  tli(> 
list  of  publications.  Each  bulletin  dcfds  with  only  one  phase  of  mining. 
Many  of  tliem  are  elal)orately  illustrated  with  engravings  and  maps. 
Oidy  a  iioniinnl  |)rice  is  asked,  in  order  that  those  wlio  need  them  most 
may  obtain  a  cop.^'-     (See  list  on  hist  page.) 


302  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

THE    REGISTERS    OF    MINES. 

The  Registers  of  ^Mines  form  practically  both  a  State  and  a  County 
directory  of  the  mines  of  California,  each  county  being  represented  in 
a  separate  pamphlet.  Those  who  Avish  to  learn  the  essential  facts  about 
any  particular  mine  are  referred  to  them.  The  facts  and  figures  are 
given  in  tabular  form,  and  are  accompanied  by  a  topographical  map  of 
the  county  on  a  large  scale,  showing  location  of  each  mineral  deposit, 
towns,  railroads,  roads,  power  lines,  ditches,  etc. 

HOME  OF  THE  BUREAU. 

The  JNIining  Bureau  occupies  the  north  half  of  the  third  floor  of  the 
Ferry  Building,  in  San  Francisco.  On  the  same  floor  are  the  rooms  of 
the  California  Development  Board,  and  an  exhibition  instituted  by  and 
maintained  by  the  same  Board,  illustrative  of  agriculture,  horticulture, 
viticulture,  and  other  industries  of  California.  All  visitors  and  resi- 
dents are  invited  to  inspect  the  Museum,  Library,  and  other  rooms  of 
the  Bureau  and  gain  a  personal  knowledge  of  its  operations. 

THE   MUSEUM. 

The  Museum  now  contains  over  20.000  specimens,  carefully  labeled 
and  attractively  arranged  in  showcases  in  a  great,  well-lighted  hall, 
Avhere  they  can  be  easily  studied.  The  collection  of  ores  from  California 
mines  is  of  course  very  extensive,  and  is  supplemented  by  many  cases 
of  characteristic  ores  from  the  principal  mining  districts  of  the  world. 
The  educational  value  of  the  exhibit  is  constantly  increased  by  substitut- 
ing the  best  specimens  obtainable  for  those  of  less  value. 

These  mineral  collections  are  not  only  interesting,  beautiful,  and  in 
every  way  attractive  to  the  sightseers  of  all  classes,  but  are  also  educa- 
tional. They  show  to  manufacturers,  miners,  capitalists,  and  others  the 
character  and  ciuality  of  the  economic  minerals  of  the  State,  and  where 
they  are  found.  Plans  have  been  formulated  to  extend  the  usefulness 
of  the  exhibit  by  special  collections,  such  as  one  showing  the  chemical 
composition  of  minerals;  another  showing  the  mineralogical  composition 
of  the  sedimentary,  metamorphic,  and  igneous  rocks  of  the  State ;  the 
petroleum-bearing  formations,  ore  bodies,  and  their  country  rocks,  etc. 
A  fine  permanent  exhibition  of  the  structural  materials  of  California 
will  be  maintained  to  illustrate  the  resources  of  the  State  in  that  regard. 

Besides  the  mineral  specimens,  there  are  many  models,  maps,  photo- 
graphs, and  diagrams  illustrating  the  modern  practice  of  mining,  mill- 
ing, and  concentrating,  and  the  technology  of  the  mineral  industries. 
An  educational  series  of  specimens  for  high  schools  has  been  inaugu- 
rated, and  new  plans  are  being  formulated  that  will  make  the  Museum 
even  more  useful  in  the  future  than  in  the  past.  Its  popularity  is  shown 
by  the  fact  that  more  than  125.000  visitors  registered  last  year,  while 
many  failed  to  leave  any  record  of  their  visit. 


APPENDIX.  303 

THE   LIBRARY. 

This  is  the  mining  reference  library  of  the  State,  constantly  consulted 
by  mining  men.  and  contains  about  5.000  volumes  of  selected  works,  in 
addition  to  the  numerous  publications  of  the  Bureau  itself.  On  its 
shelves  will  be  found  reports  on  geology,  mineralogy,  mining,  etc..  ])ub- 
lished  by  states,  governments,  and  individuals;  the  reports  of  scientific 
societies  at  home  and  abroad;  encyclopaedias,  scientific  papers,  and 
magazines;  mining  publications,  and  the  current  literature  of  mining 
ever  needed  in  a  reference  library. 

Manufacturers'  catalogues  of  mining  and  milling  machinery  by  Cali- 
fornia firms  are  kept  on  file.  The  Registers  of  Mines  form  an  up-to-date 
directory  for  investor  and  manufacturer. 

The  Librarian's  desk  is  the  general  Inireau  of  information,  where 
visitors  from  all  parts  of  the  world  are  ever  seeking  information  about 
all  parts  of  California. 

READING-ROOM. 

This  is  a  part  of  the  Library  Department  and  is  supplied  with  more 
than  one  hundred  current  publications.  Visitors  will  find  here  various 
California  papers  and  leading  mining  journals  from  all  parts  of  the 
world. 

The  Library  and  Reading-Room  are  open  to  the  public  from  9  a.  m. 
to  5  p.  M.  daily,  except  Sundays  and  holidays. 

THE  LABORATORY. 

This  department  identifies  for  the  prospector  the  minerals  he  finds, 
and  tells  him  the  nature  of  the  wall  rocks  or  dikes  he  maj^  encounter  in 
his  workings;  but  this  department  does  not  do  assaying  nor  compete 
with  private  assayers.  The  presence  of  minerals  is  determined,  but  not 
the  percentage  present.  No  charges  for  this  service  are  made  to  any 
resident  of  the  State.  Many  of  the  inquiries  made  of  this  department 
have  brought  capital  to  the  development  of  new  districts.  IMany  tech- 
nical cpiestions  have  been  asked  and  answered  as  to  the  best  chemical 
and  mechanical  processes  of  handling  ores  and  raw  material.  Tlie 
laboratory  is  well  equipped. 

THE    DRAUGHTING-ROOM. 

In  this  room  are  prepared  scores  of  maps,  from  the  small  ones  filling 
only  a  part  of  a  page,  to  the  largest  County  and  State  maps;  and  the 
numerous  illustrations,  other  than  photographs,  that  are  constantly 
being  required  for  the  Bulletins  and  Registers  of  Mines.  In  this  room, 
also,  will  be  found  a  very  complete  coUection  of  maps  of  all  kinds 
relating  to  the  industries  of  the  State,  and  one  of  the  important  duties 
of  the  department  is  to  make  such  additions  and  corrections  as  will  keep 
the  maps  up  to  date.  The  seeker  after  information  inquires  here  if  lie 
wishes  to  know  about  llie  geohigy  or  t(»i)ogi'apby  of  any  disti-ict;  about 


304  GOLD  DREDGING  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

the  locations  of  the  new  camps,  or  positions  of  old  or  abandoned  ones ; 
about  railroads,  stage  roads,  and  trails ;  or  about  the  working  drawings 
of  anything  connected  with  mining. 

MINERAL    STATISTICS. 

One  of  the  features  of  this  institution  is  its  mineral  statistics.  Their 
annual  compilation  by  the  State  Mining  Bureau  began  in  1894.  No 
other  state  in  the  Union  attempts  so  elaborate  a  record,  expends  so  much 
labor  and  money  on  its  compilation,  or  secures  so  accurate  a  one. 

The  State  Mining  Bureau  keeps  a  careful,  up-to-date,  and  reliable 
but  confidential  register  of  every  producing  mine,  mine-owner,  and 
mineral  industry  in  the  State.  From  such  are  secured,  under  pledge 
of  secrecy,  reports  of  output,  etc.,  and  all  other  available  sources  of 
information  are  used  in  checking,  verifying,  and  supplementing  the 
information  so  gained.  This  information  is  published  in  an  annual 
tabulated,  statistical,  single-sheet  bulletin,  showing  the  mineral  produc- 
tion by  both  substances  and  counties. 

TOTAL  GOLD  PRODUCT  OP  CALirORNIA-1848-1908. 

While  gold  is  next  to  the  leading  mining  product,  its  yield  no  longer 
puts  the  greatest  gold-producing  county  in  the  first  place.  Gold  is  more 
widelj^  distributed  than  any  other  substance  thus  far  mined  in  Cali- 
fornia. 

The  following  table  shows  the  total  gold  yield  of  California,  by  years, 

from  the  time  mining  commenced  in  1848  to  1908,  inclusive  :* 

1848 .$24.j.301  1880 .$20,030,761 

1849 10.1.51,360  1881 19.223,155 

1850 41.273.106  1882 17.146,416 

1851 7.5,9.38.232  1883 24,316,873 

18.52 81.294,700  1884 13,600,000 

18.53 67.613.487  188-5 12,661,044 

1854 69,433,931  1886 14.716,506 

1855 ,5.5,485.395  1887 13.-588,614 

1856 -57,509.411  1888-_ 1*2,750,000 

18-57 43,628.172  1889 11,212,913 

1858 46.591.140  1890 12,309,793 

18.59 4-5.846..599  1891 12.728,869 

1860 44.095,163  1892 12,571,900 

1861 41.884.995  1893 12,422,811 

1862 38.8-54.668  1894 13.923,281 

1863 23.-501.7-36  1895 1-5,334,317 

1864 24,071,423  1896 17.181.562 

1865 17.9.30.858  1897 1-5,871,401 

1866 17,123.867  1898 15.906.478 

1867 18.265,452  1899 1.5.336,031 

1868 17.-55-5.867  1900 1-5,863,355 

1869 18.229,044  1901 16,989,044 

1870 17,4-58.133  1902 16.910,320 

1871 17.477.885  1903 16.471,264 

1872 1-5,482.194  1904 19,109,600 

1873 15,019,210  1905 19.197,043 

1874 17.264,8-36  1906 18.732,452 

1875 16.876.009  1907 16.727,928 

1876 1.5.610,723  1908 18.761,559 

1877 1(5.-501.268  1909t 21.500,000 

1878 18.8.39,141                                                       

1879 19,626,654        Total -'?1..509,775,250 

*  Figures  for  1906,  1907.  and  1908  by  U.  S.  Geological  purvey,     f  Estimated. 


APPENDIX.  305 

LIST  Of  PUBLICATIONS. 

Publications  of  this  Bureau  will  be  sent  on  receipt  of  the  requisite 
amount  and  postage.  Only  stamps,  coin  or  money  orders  will  he 
accepted  in  payment.    Do  not  send  personal  checks. 

Address  all  communications  regarding  publications  to  Librarian-. 

(All  publications  not  mentioned  are  exhausted.)  p^g^_ 

Price.  age. 

Report      XI— 1.892.  First  Biennial $1.00  .?0.15 

Report  XIII— 1S90.  Third  Biennial 1.00  .20 

Bulletin  No.     0 — "Gold  Mill  Practices  in  California"   (od  ed. ) .50  .04 

Bulletin  No.     9 — "Mine  Drainage,  Pumps.  Etc."   (bound) .60  .OS 

Bulletin  No.  15 — "Map  of  Oil  City  Oil  Fields,  Fresno  County,  Cali- 
fornia"   .05  .02 

Bulletin  No.  23 — "Copper  Resources  of  California" .50  .12 

Bulletin  No.  27 — "Quicksilver  Resources  of  California"   (2d  ed. ) .75  .14 

Bulletin  No.  30 — "Bibliography  Relating  to  the  Geology.  Palaeontology 

and  Mineral  Resources  of  California."  including  List  of  Maps..  .50  .10 

Bulletin  No.  31 — "Chemical  Analysis  of  California  Petroleum" .02 

Bulletin  No.  32 — "Production  and  Use  of  California  Petroleum" .75  .OS 

Bulletin  No.  3C — "Gold  Dredging  in  California"   (3d  ed. ) .50  .08 

Bulletin  No.  37 — "Gems  and  Jewelers' Materials  of  California"  (2ded. )  .50  .OS 

Bulletin  No.  38 — "Structural  and  Industrial  Materials  of  California"-.  .75  .20 

Bulletin  No.  45 — "Auriferous  Black  Sands  of  California" .10  .02 

Bulletin  No.  40 — "Index  of  Mining  Bureau  Publications" .30  .00 

Bulletin  No.  50 — "Copper  Resources  of  California"  (revised  ed. ) l.(XJ  .20 

Bulletin  No.  57 — "Gold  Dredging  in  California"    (revised  ed.) 

Bulletin  No.  58 — "Mineral  Production  of  California" — 1909 .02 

Bulletin  No.  59 — "Mineral  Production  of  California  for  23  Years" .02 

Bulletin  No.  60 — "Minerals  of  California.  Mining  Laws.  Maps.  Etc.".-          .05 

California  Mine  Bell  Signals  (cardboard) .05  .02 

California  Mine  Bell  Signals  (paper) .03  .02 

Register  of  Klines,  with  Map.  Amador  County .25  .08 

Register  of  Mines,  with  Map.  Butte  County .25  .08 

Register  of  Mines,  with  Map.  El  Dorado  County .25  .08 

Register  of  Mines,  with  Map,  Inyo  County .25  .OS 

Register  of  Mines,  with  Map.  Kern  County .25  .08 

Register  of  Mines,  with  Map.  Lake  County .25  .()8 

Register  of  Mines,  with  Map.  Mariposa  County .25  .08 

Register  of  Mines,  with  Map.  Nevada  County .25  .08 

Register  of  Mines,  with  Map.  San  Bernardino  (bounty .25  .08 

Register  of  Mines,  with  Map.  San  Diego  County ' .25  .OS 

Register  of  Mines,  with  Map,  Santa  Barbara  County .25  .08 

Register  of  Mines,  with  Map.  Shasta  County .25  .08 

Register  of  Mines,  with  Map,  Sierra  County .25  .08 

Register  of  Mines,  with  Map.  Siskiyou  County .25  .()8 

Register  of  Mines,  with  ^inp.  Trinity  County .25  .08 

Register  of  Mines,  with  Maj),  Tuolumne  County .25  .08 

Register  of  Mines,  with  Map.  Yuba  County  ..1 .25  .08 

Register  of  Oil  Wells,  with  Map.  Los  Angeles  City .35  .02 

Map  of  El  Dorado  County  Showing  Boundaries  National  Forests .20  .(»2 

Map  of  Madera  County  Showing  Boundaries  National  Forests .20  .02 

Map  of  Placer  County  Showing  Boundaries  National  Forests .20  .(»2 

Map  of  Shasta  County  Showing  Boundaries  National  Forests .20  .02 

Map  of  Sierra  County  Showing  Boundaries  National  Forests .20  .02 

Map  of  Si.skiyou  County  Showing  Boundaries  National  Forests .20  .02 

Map  of  Trinity  County  Showing  Boundaries  National  Forests .45  .02 

Map  of  Tuolumne  County  Showing  Boundaries  National  Forests .20  .02 

Map  of  Mother  Lode  .05  .02 

Map  of  Desert  Region  of  California .10  .02 

Map  Showing  Copper  Deposits  in  California .05  .02 

Map  of  Calaveras  County  .1*5  .03 

Map  of  Placer  Countj'  ..' I. .'I..'"  .25  .03 

Map  of  Plumas  County  .!>.",  .03 

Mineral  and  Relief  Map  of  California .25  .05 

Map  of  Forest  Reserves  in  California   (mounted) ..50  .08 

Map  of  Forest  Reserves  in  CaHfomia  (unmounted) .30  .OC, 

Map  of  Minan't  District.  Madera  County 20  .02 

In  Preparation — 
Bulletin — "Petroleum  in  ( '.ilirornia" 

20— f:n 


INDEX. 


Page. 

Ashburton    dredge    5 

Ancient   channels    15,  16 

Ammeter 64 

American  Gold  Dredging  Company 149 

American  No.   1  and  No.  2  dredges 1.51 

American   River   district   177-20.4 

American   River  district  production 177 

Ashburton  Mining  Company 178 

Ashburton  No.   1  and  No.  2  dredges 178 

American  River  district  in  1909  and  1910 199-204 

Appendix,   State  Mining  Bureau .300 

Bannock,   Montana 4 

Bucyrus   Company   5,  40 

Boston  and  California  Gold  Dredging  Company 6 

Butte    County    10 

Benefit  derived  from  dredge  mining 12 

Bedrock 16-18 

Black  sand 29,  76 

Buckets " 40 

Buckets,    weight    41 

Buckets,    close-connected    41,  259 

Buckets,  open-connected 41 

Buckets,   three-eye   42,  43.  193 

Buckets,    two-eye    42,  43 

Buckets,    hood    42,  43 

Buckets,   bottom    43.  259 

Buckets,    lips    43 

Buckets,    pin    44 

Butte    County    106 

Butte  County,  general  statistics,  production,  etc 106,  107 

Butte  County,  history  of  dredging  industry 108-110 

Butte  County,  dredges  operating   1909,  table 113 

Bucyrus  and  Risdon  dredges,  early  operations 116 

Butte   Dredging   Company    119 

Butte  dredge   119,  120 

Brayton  and   Mayhew 123 

Baggett  dredge 125,  126 

Bear  River  district   137.  163 

Bear  River   Mining  Company 163 

Boston  and  California  Dredging  Company 137.  138 

Boston  and  Oroville  Mining  Company 137,  139-142 

Boston  No.   1  and  No.   2  dredges 140 

Boston  No.   4   dredge 142 

Boston  Machine   Shop  Company 139-144 

Bradley.   F.   W.    142 

Biggs  No.   1   dredge 142,  143 

Biggs  No.    2   dredge 143,  144 

Butte   Creek   district    159 

Butte  Creek  Consolidated  Dredging  Company 159-162 

Butte  Creek  dredge 160 

Bear    River    163 

Bear  River  Exploration  Company 163 

Bear  River  No.   2  dredge 163 

Breckonridge,  Colorado 263 

Boston-Idaho   Gold   Dredging  Company 265 

Boise   basin    266 


308  INDEX. 

Page. 

Bonanza  Creek 273 

Couch,   Thomas 1,  4,  108 

Couch  No.   1  dredge 1,  109,  146 

Clam-shell    dredge    2 

Christie,  W.   H. 4 

Continental  dredge 5,  140-142 

Calaveras  County 7 

Cache   Rock   11 

Complaints  about  dredges  obstructing  rivers 12 

Callahan     14 

Cost  of  drilling 31 

Clean  up  of  gold  tables 76,  78 

Cost  of  California  type  dredges 81 

Cost  of  dipper  dredges 84 

Crew  on  dipper  dredges 84 

Crew  on  California  type  dredges 81 

California  type   dredge 86,  87 

California  dredging  districts 106 

Cherokee  dredge 114,  145,  146 

Cameron,  D.  P. 116 

California  No.    1   dredge 124 

Cheney,   S.  W.   134 

California   No.    1   and  No.   2   dredges 138 

California  No.   3  dredge 138,  139 

Cherokee  Gold  Dredging  Company 145 

Couch  Nos.   2  and  3   dredges 146 

Couch  No.   4  dredge 147 

Chesebro,   H.   E.    160 

Cleveland,  Newton 168,  201 

Colorado  Pacific  Gold  Dredging  Company 178 

Cranston,    R.    E. 178 

Calaveras  County 205-208 

Calaveras   Gold   Dredging   Company 207 

Conrey   Placer   Mining  Company 257 

Colorado   Gold   Dredging   Company 264 

Canadian  Klondyke  Mining  Company,  Ltd 272 

Double-lift   bucket   elevator   dredge   2,  40 

Dubois  suction  dredge 11 

Drilling   (see  Prospecting). 

Drill   core   25,  26 

Dredge  construction   and  operation   38-84 

Designers  and  constructors  of  California  dredges 40 

Dry  rot  of  dredge  hulls ■. 74 

Dipper  dredges   81,  84 

Dipper  dredges,   electrically  driven 83,  84 

Doolittle,    J.    E.    142 

Diamondville 160-162 

Double-bank   gold-saving  tables   185-187 

Dredges  operating  in  the  Folsom  district  in  1909 199 

Debris   problem    248-252 

Debris  problem  in  Australia 251,  252 

Dredging  in   Montana   253-262 

Dredging  in    Colorado    262-265 

Dredging  in  Idaho 265,  266 

Dredging  in  Alaska 266-273 

Dredging  in  Philippine  Islands 273-278 

Dredging  in  New  Zealand  for  tlie  year  1908 279,  280 

Dredging  in  Siberia 280-285 

Dredging  in  Mexico 285 

Dredging  in  Colombia,   South  America 286-289 

Dredging  in  French  Guiana 289,  290 

Dredging  in  Dutch  Guiana 291 

Dredging  in  British  Guiana 291 

Dredging  in  Peru  and  Bolivia 291-293 

Dredging  in  Tierra  Del  Puego 293-297 


INDEX.  309 

Page. 

Dredging   in   Ecuador    297 

Dredging   in   Brazil    297 

Dredging  in  Argentina 297 

Dredging  in  Malay  Peninsula 298 

Dredging   in    Korea    298 

Dredging  in  T\^est  Africa 299 

El  Dorado  County 11 

Examinations,    preliminary    33 

Electrical  dredge  equipment   64 

Electric  power,   Oroville  and  Yuba  districts 66 

Electric  power,   Folsom  district   67 

Electric  shore  cables 68 

El  Oro   Dredging  Company 120 

El  Oro  dredge  No.   1 121 

El  Oro  No.   2  dredge 122,  123 

Empire    dredge    131,  132 

Exploration  No.    1    dredge 142.  143 

Exploration   No.    2    dredge 143.  144 

Exploration   No.    3   dredge 144 

Evans    R.   D.   163,  165 

El  Dorado  Gold  Dredging  Company 195 

Feather  River  No.   1   dredge 1 

First  bucket  elevator  dredge  in  California 1 

First  dredges  in  the  Oroville  district 6 

Folsom  or  American  River  district 6 

Fires  on   dredges   65 

Feather  River  division  of  the  Natomas  Consolidated  of  California 144-148 

Feather  River   Exploration   Company 145-147 

Feather  No.    1  dredge 145 

Feather   River  Development  Company 146,  147 

Feather  River  Nos.  2  and  3  dredges 146 

Feather  River  No.   4   dredge 147 

Feather  River  No.   5  dredge 147,  148 

Feather  Nos.   2  and  3  dredges 148 

Folsom    district   176-204 

Folsom  Development  Company 179-194 

Folsom  Nos.   1  and  2  dredges 179 

Folsom  No.  3  dredge 181 

Folsom  No.  4  dredge 185 

Folsom  No.  5  dredge 187 

Folsom  No.   6  dredge 190 

Folsom  district,  summary  of  operations 198,  199 

First  electric  driven  dredge  in  California 140,  141 

Grassliopper   Creek,    Montana    2 

Geological 14 

Golden   States  Miners'   Iron  Works 40,  134 

Grade  for  riffle  tables 75 

Griffin.   F.   \^^    116 

Gardella  dredging,  Oroville  district 124 

Gold  Run  Dredging  Company 125 

Goodwin,  J.  W. 129 

Guggenheim,  S.   R. 148 

Gardella,  L.  and  J.,  Wyman's  Ravine 155.  156 

Garden  Ranch  Gold  Dredging  Company 155.  158 

Gardella  dredge,  Wyman's  Ravine 155.  156 

Hammon,  W.  P.   1,  4,  108,  109 

Hydraulic  or  centrifugal  pump  suction  dredge 2 

Hanford.   R.  G.   4,  178 

Hammonton    14 

Hopper 48-51 

Headline   dredge    61 

Hulls,   wood   construction    .- 69-71 

Hulls,  steel  construction .: 74 

Holmes"    riffles • 1 76 

Hull  of  dipper  dredges 83 


310  INDEX. 

Page. 

Hamlyn,  John  J. 109,  137 

Hunter  dredge 131-133 

Hammond,    John    Hayes    142 

Honcut  Creek  district 158 

Indiana  Gold  Dredging  Company 114-119 

Indiana  Gold  Dredging  and  Mining  Company 115,  116 

Indiana  No.  1  dredge 115-117 

Indiana  No.   2   dredge 118 

Indiana  No.    3   dredge 118,  119 

Isabel  Dredging  Company 208 

Jenny    Lind    14 

Known  payable  districts  in  California 11 

Kia  Oro  Gold  Dredging  Company 149 

Kentucky  Ranch  Gold  Dredging  Company 158,  159 

Logs,   field  and  time 30 

Link-Belt   Company   40,  120-122 

Ladder    45 

Ladder  spillway   45 

Ladder  rollers 45 

Ladder  hoists 58 

Loss  of  gold  from  gold  tables 78-80 

Loss  of  gold  in  tailing 80 

Lost  time  records  on   dredges 103-105 

Lava   Bed   Dredging  Company , 130,  131 

Lava  Bed  Nos.   1.   2.  and  3  dredges 131 

Leggett  &  Wilcox   Company 138 

Leggett  Gold  Dredging  Company 153 

Leggett  No.    3   dredge 153,  154 

Leggett  Gold  Mining  Company 155,  156 

La  Grange   Gold  Dredging  Company 210 

Landfield,   Jerome  B.   283 

Molyneux  River,  New  Zealand 3 

Marion  Steam  Shovel  Company 6,  40 

Merced   County    7 

Methods  of  mining  gravel   in   California 9 

Marigold 14 

Manufacturers  and  designers  of  California  dredges 40 

Motors 65 

Marigold   Dredging   Company    130 

Marysville    Dredging    Company    165,  170 

Marigold  Nos.  1,  2,  and  3  dredges,  Yuba  River 172 

Mississippi    Bar    178 

Monitors   on   dredges    188-192 

Mokelumne   Mining   Company    206,  207 

Merced    County    211-213 

Natomas   Consolidated  of   California 1,  180 

New    Zealand    2,  4 

New  England  Exploration  Company 6 

Newson.   J.   F.   114 

Noyes,  B.  S.  and  W.  S 119-121 

Nevada  dredge    124 

New  York  Machine  Shop 134 

Natomas  Consolidated  of  California,  Feather  River  division 144-148 

Natoma  Development   Company   195-198 

Natoma  No.    1   dredge 196.  197 

Natoma   No.   2   dredge 197.  198 

Natoma  No.    3   dredge 198 

Natomas  Consolidated  of  California 200-204 

Natomas  rock-crushing  plant  No.   1 224-227 

Natomas  rock-crushing  plant  No.   2 227-237 

Oroville    district    1,  5.  6.  Ill 

Otago,   New  Zealand 3 

Ophir  Gold  Dredging  Company 123,  124 

Ophir  dredge 123 

Oro  Water,  Light  and  Power  Company 129 


INDEX.  311 

Page. 

Oroville    Dredging.    Limited    135 

Oroville  Gold  Dredging  and  ExEdofation  Company 137,  142 

Other  dredging  fields 253-298 

Postl'ethwaite,   R.    H.    2 

Pneumatic   caisson   2 

Principal  dredging  fields  in  California 7 

Production  of  gold  from  dredges  in  California 9,  10 

Placer  County 11 

Plumas  County 11 

Pay-streaks    17 

Prospecting   dredging   ground    19 

with  shafts  or  drills 20-22 

gravel,   different  sizes 21 

drill    casing    22,  23 

drilling  without  casing 22 

drill   bit   and   stem 23,  24 

sand  pump,   in   drilling 24 

rocking  and  panning 26 

platinum    29 

Prospecting  log-book 29,  30 

Pump  motors 61 

Plutus  dipper  dredge 81 

Perry,    H.    F.    114 

Perry,  O.  C. 114,  148 

Perry,   O.    B.    115,  148 

Parks,   Li.   N.    125 

Pennsylvania  Gold  Dredging  Company 134 

Pennsylvania  dredge 134,  135 

Payable  districts  known  in  California 11 

Pacific  Gold  Dredging  Company 148 

Pacific  No.    1   dredge 149,  151 

Pacific  No.   2  dredge,  Oroville 151 

Pacific  No.  3  dredge,  Oroville 151 

Pacific  No.   4  dredge,  Oroville 152,  153 

Perry  No.    1    dredge,   Oroville I49 

Placer  County 163 

Paine,   R.    E.    167 

Pacific  Nos.   1  and  2  dredges.   Folsom 178 

Poor  Farm  Placer  Mining  Company 258 

Placer  mining  in  the  Yukon 273 

Paracale    district    275 

Paracale  Gold  Dredging  Company 277 

Risdon   Iron  Works 1,  4,  n,  40 

Riffles    74,  75 

Riffles,   Holmes   system   76 

Riffles.  James  H.  Leggett 76 

Ruby.   Montana 116 

Rebel    Hill,    Folsom    187,  188 

Reclaiming  dredged  land 224 

Rock-crusliing  plants  for  dredge  tailings 224 

Rock-crushing  plant  No.  1,  Folsom 224 

Rock-crushing  plant  No.  2,  Folsom 227 

Replanting   dredged  land    237 

Oroville    district    237-241 

Folsom   district 241 

Yuba  district 242 

California,  general. 245 

New   Zealand    245-247 

Ruby  Valley  gravels 255 

Submarine    boats    2 

Steam  shovel 2 

Single  bucket  or  spoon  dredge 2 

Suction    dredge    2.  3 

Southerland,   F.  T.   4,  108 

Shasta    County    7 


;312  INDEX. 

Page. 

Siskiyou   County 7 

Stanislaus    County    7 

Sacramento   County   10,  174 

Shafts,  in  prospecting 20 

Standard  type  of  California  dredge . 38 

Save-all 51 

Screens    51 

Screens,    revolving 51-54 

Screens,    shaking    51,  54 

Spuds     60,  61 

Searchlight 65 

Shasta  Dredging  Company   66 

Sea  valves  on  dredges 66 

Spud  casings 74 

Sailor    Bar    178 

Syndicate  Dredging  Company 178,  179 

Summary  of  dredging  operations  in  the  Folsom  district  up  to  1909 198 

Stanislaus  County 209-211 

Shasta  County 213-218 

Shasta  Dredging  Company 216-218 

Siskiyou    County    218-223 

Scott  River  Dredging  Company 221-223 

Scott  River  dredge 221 

Siskiyou  Dredging  Company 223 

Seward    Peninsula    266 

Trinity   County   11 

Trinity  Center 11 

Tumbler,   lower 45 

Tumbler,  upper 46 

Tumblers    47 

Tumbler  drives 48 

Tailing   stacker,   belt   54-57 

Tailing   stacker,    bucket    54,  57 

Troughing    idlers    57 

Transformer  shelter 65 

Tables,   single  bank 74 

Tables,    double   bank 74 

Tailing    sluices    74 

Tests  to  determine  loss  of  gold  on  dredges 80 

Three  Friends  Mining  Company 267 

Union  Iron  Works 40 

Vacuum  dredge 2 

Viloro  No.    1    dredge 66,126-129 

Viloro   Syndicate,    Limited   1-6 

Victor    dredge    131,  134 

"Western  Engineering  and  Construction  Company 40 

Winch  machinery 60 

Working   time   of   dredges 81 

Wages  of  dredge  crew 81 

"Working  costs  of  dredges 85-102 

Wyman's  Ravine  district 155 

Willow   Hill   181 

Yuba   River    2,  7,  14.  170 

Yuba  County 10,  164 

Yuba  Construction  Company 40,  174 

Yukon  Gold  Company 148,  266 

Yuba  consolidated  gold  fields 165,  170 

Yuba  Nos.    1   and   2    dredges 166,  167 

Yuba  No.  11  dredge 168 

Yosemite  Mining  and  Dredging  Company 211 

Yukon,  placer  mining  in 273 


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